Transatlantic Dialogues

Bringing together non-governmental actors from both sides of the Atlantic to discuss transatlantic policy questions assists in addressing key issues of concern and enriches EU-US co-operation. The Joint Statement on "People to People" links issued at the December 1998 Summit confirmed the mutual commitment of the EU and US to the process of strengthening and broadening transatlantic contacts between stakeholders on transatlantic issues in this way.

The Transatlantic Dialogues play a key role in this process. The Transatlantic Business, Consumer, Environment and Labour Dialogues have made valuable contributions to the shaping of the Relationship, its objectives and activities, including recommendations to the EU-US Summit.

The late U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown intended to promote closer commercial ties between the U.S. and European Union. Brown, together with his counterparts in the European Commission, Martin Bangemann and Sir Leon Brittan, created the “dialogue” system as a mechanism to encourage public and civil society input to fostering a more closely integrated transatlantic marketplace. The dialogue system, which includes separate dialogues for consumers, labor, environment and business, was a key part of the governments' 1995 New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA), which laid out a plan to enhance overall transatlantic economic and political relations.

Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD)

Transatlantic Business Dialogue (TABD)

Transatlantic Consummer Dialogue (TCD)

Transatlantic Environment Dialogue (TAED)

Transatlantic Labour Dialogue (TALD)