MEETING WITH THE UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE EU, ANDREW PUZDER, TO STRENGTHEN TRANSATLANTIC DIALOGUE

Javier Zarzalejos met in Brussels with Andrew Puzder, United States Ambassador to the European Union, in his capacity as Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. The meeting served to highlight the value of transatlantic relations, which remain necessary and useful despite the changes affecting the international order. Both sides agreed that Europe is an essential partner for the United States, both from an economic perspective and in terms of security and prosperity.

During the meeting, strategic issues of shared interest were discussed, including the security context, Europe’s defence efforts, and Europe’s weight as a major trading area. Ambassador Puzder stressed the importance of boosting economic growth by reducing the regulatory burden.

The agenda also included challenges linked to the digital environment and the development of artificial intelligence, a concern shared on both sides of the Atlantic. Zarzalejos reiterated that there are no plans to reopen the General Data Protection Regulation, while recalling that there are broad areas for cooperation, such as the fight against child sexual abuse material. Migration, energy, relations with Russia, and the urgency of ending the war in Ukraine rounded out a discussion that once again underscored the strategic importance of the link between Europe and the United States.