Atlantic Partnership: Background

Globalisation: Atlantic Partnership

History

The Atlantic Partnership was founded by the former leader of the British Conservative Party Michael Howard in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks there was a fear that as America pursued the war on terror, it risked drifting apart from Europe which was pursuing monetary and political unification, and expansion in the form of Europe wide institutions. This organisation was formed to ensure this was not the case. This objective can be seen in two quotes from a statement on the organisations website in which Lord Powell of Bayswater states that the:

“Atlantic Partnership’s role is to argue the case for setting major policy decisions in the context of their impact on transatlantic relations. That should apply as much to the way America pursues the global war against terrorism as to the European Union’s ambition to build stronger, Europe-wide institutions.”

And also that:

“Governments on both sides of the Atlantic have recognised how much we all stand to lose if we allow our continents to drift apart. Quite apart from the material damage we would do ourselves, such separation would weaken the values which we want to see adopted more widely throughout the world.”

Both these quotes show that the Atlantic Partnership was created to bridge the gap between America and Europe by using the

The organisation has sought over the years to continue the strong influence of America in the development of the European Union. This has been done by using the United Kingdom as the spokesman for American interests. It also represents a continuation of American policy towards Europe which was established during the Second World War and the Cold War.

As can be seen in the people section, this organisation is linked to very powerful individuals from the world of politics, business and the military. Through its many connections with these individuals the organisation has been influential in fostering relationships and influencing decision making at the highest level. This has largely been done through the many breakfast meetings that the company hosts each year in the United Kingdom France, Germany, Spain and the United States. These meetings have been held with the aim of giving major figures the chance to deliver their views to an invited audience, made up of leading businessmen, political and military leaders, and people from the media world such as newspaper editors. These speakers have included the current British Prime Minister, David Cameron; the governor of the Bank of England, Dr. Mervyn King; the President of the World Bank, Ambassador Robert Zoellick; and also General James Jones, United States National Security Advisor. All of these men are very influential in the decision making of their respective countries.

Aims and Objectives

The Atlantic Partnership’s main aim is to create a relationship between America and Europe. The governments within these transatlantic areas have different goals and initiatives, the Atlantic partnerships role is therefore to ensure the continents do not drift apart and become weaker as lone entities. Acting together allows the separate continents to share values and spread the Atlantic Partnerships values and aims. The Atlantic partnerships role between the different nations is its attempt to set major policy decisions and agreements, keeping in mind the impact these decisions will have on the transatlantic nations. These policies can vary from the War on Terror which followed 9/11 and the European Union’s (EU) ambitions to create Europe-wide institutions.

The Atlantic Partnerships websites the ways in which it achieves these aims and objectives:

• We have formed a high level network of high profile opinion formers on both sides of the Atlantic who are willing to use their influence to further the European American relationship – they are our Atlantic Partnership panel, our Vice Chairmen and Patrons.

• We identify issues of concern and activate opinion formers.

• We host high level breakfast meetings giving major figures the opportunity to air their views to a select group of leading decision makers and opinion formers. The breakfasts now take place in London, Paris, Berlin, Frankfurt, Madrid, New York and Washington DC. We intend to extend them to Hamburg and Rome.

• We ‘drip feed’ the national and international press with articles and interviews promoting the cause of the partnership, with the aim of developing a defined profile in the media in the longer term.

• We aim to contribute to programmes on the electronic media bringing attention to the values of the partnership and the importance of not allowing particular points of friction to undermine it.

• We monitor issues relating to the relationship from both sides of the Atlantic. Atlantic Partnership’s website contains keynote articles and speeches.

• We aim to ensure that supporters are fully briefed on the issues and current debates through a regular newsletter as well as regular publications of articles and speeches written by our panelists.

• We have a website to keep supporters informed of the work of the partnership.

• We have offices in London and Washington, DC.

• We are establishing ‘cells’ of Atlantic Partnership supporters elsewhere in Europe, namely Paris, Berlin and Rome and Madrid.

• We operate as a central point from which supporters of the partnership can network with each other.