MEPs travel to Washington DC to discuss transatlantic relations with US counterparts

The European Parliament’s delegation for relations with the United States will travel to the US capital from Wednesday to Friday for talks with representatives of the US Congress.

The visit by MEPs takes place against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of sweeping tariffs on global trade partners. In Washington DC, the delegation, led by Brando Benifei (S&D, Italy), will meet primarily with representatives of the US Congress, in part to prepare for the next Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD), a forum of leading lawmakers designed to strengthen relations between the European Parliament and Congress.

On Thursday, MEPs will meet with members of the US House committee dealing with strategic competition between the US and China, and with the new leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and members of the House EU Caucus. Discussions are expected to centre on developments in Europe, not least in relation to Ukraine, as well as on bilateral trade, EU-NATO cooperation, the future of transatlantic ties, and relations with China. On Thursday and Friday, MEPs will hold meetings with US State Department representatives, as well as with think tanks and representatives of the US Chamber of Commerce.

The MEPs taking part in the delegation are members of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue enlarged bureau. In addition to Mr Benifei, the delegation will comprise: European Parliament Vice-President Sophie Wilmès (Renew Europe, Belgium), Foreign Affairs Committee Chair David McAllister (EPP, Germany), International Trade Committee Chair Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany) and Foreign Affairs Committee standing rapporteur for the US Michał Szczerba (EPP, Poland).