With the second Trump administration in full swing, cosying up to America’s enemies while alienating its friends, the question of transatlantic relations has never been higher on the agenda. And it is not just about relations between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US): America’s wholesale withdrawal from its previous position on the world stage, going hand-in-hand with its protectionist, inward-looking approach to foreign policy, takes a sledgehammer to the post-war global order. The result? In an era of increasing global conflict, of crisis in liberal democracies, and where longstanding challenges such as climate change remain in place, global leadership is fragmented, with no one left to pick up the pieces.
What is the role of the EU, and the wider European continent, in such a world? These are the themes explored in TEPSA’s latest book “The United States and the Future of Europe: Views from the Capitals”, a volume which looks at 40+ national perspectives from across Europe, edited by Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak, and Paul Schmidt. Can these views help us navigate an increasingly difficult geopolitical landscape to find a coherent vision for Europe in the world?
To discuss this crucial question, TEPSA organised “The Future of Transatlantic Relations”, a public debate which took place at the European Parliament Library between 13:00 – 14:30 CEST on Monday, 23 June 2025.
The event featured a keynote speech by Martin Hojsik MEP, Vice-President of the European Parliament, and a panel discussion with:
- Niklas Helwig, Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA);
- Erik Jones, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute;
- Moderated by Mariam Khotenashvili, Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA).
This event brought together leading experts and co-authors of TEPSA’s latest book on the future of Europe to discuss the European project’s direction in the context of a second Trump term in the US.
