La Ministre du Budget Sophie Wilmès se réjouit des dernières prévisions économiques du Bureau fédéral du Plan pour 2017 et 2018.

L’année 2017 devrait connaître une croissance supérieure à ce qui avait été estimé précédemment (1,7% au lieu de 1,6%), notamment grâce aux réformes structurelles, menées par ce gouvernement, visant à soutenir la relance économique et la création d’emplois. Ces nouvelles prévisions, combinées aux derniers chiffres des recettes et dépenses, soutiennent les décisions qui ont été prises lors du conclave de cet été.

Established in 1999, the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD) aims to strengthen cooperation between the European Union and the United States across a range of areas extending beyond foreign policy.

Sophie Wilmès, Vice-Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the United States (D-US), participated in the 92nd edition, held in San Francisco, California.

JOINT STATEMENT – Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue

Introduction

The Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD) met from August 24th to August 26th in

San Francisco, California, for the 92nd Inter-Parliamentary Meeting of the European Parliament and the U.S. House of Representatives. Building on more than five decades of interparliamentary engagement, we reaffirm our shared commitment to democracy, human rights, the rule of law, diplomatic engagement, a strong transatlantic partnership, and a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous world.

Defense and Transatlantic Security

We commit to strengthening the transatlantic partnership between the United States and the European Union as it remains the cornerstone of our mutual security, peace, and stability. Building on seventy-seven years of cooperation through NATO, we underscore the indispensable role of the Alliance in deterring aggression, defending democratic values, and upholding collective defense under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty – an attack on one is an attack on all.

We welcome the continued commitment of Allies to strengthen burden sharing through increased defense investment. We acknowledge the commitment to invest 5 percent of gross domestic product in defense and security-related priorities by 2035. We condemn Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, reaffirm our support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and recognize the substantial security, financial, and humanitarian assistance provided by the United States, the European Union, and NATO Allies. We recognize that military assistance, particularly relating to air defense, is crucial for Ukraine’s security.

We support a just and lasting peace and any meaningful steps that would stop the aggression. The transatlantic relationship plays a critical role in accomplishing that goal.  We commit to strengthening defense industrial cooperation, enhancing interoperability, addressing emerging threats including cyberattacks, hybrid warfare, and the security implications of emerging technologies.

Artificial Intelligence, Innovation, and Competition in the Technology Industry

We recognize that our transatlantic partnership provides a strong foundation for necessary engagement on policy discussions regarding artificial intelligence, emerging technologies like quantum, and innovation. Recognizing that the economies and societies of the United States and Europe have been shaped by the innovative technologies they have helped build, it is crucial that we work together, with due regard for the sovereign right of both partners to regulatory autonomy, to seize the opportunities and address the risks presented by artificial intelligence. Clear, predictable environments help foster the growth of companies developing these transformative technologies.

We commit to strengthening cooperation to foster innovation, support open and competitive technology markets, protect intellectual property, and build resilient supply chains for critical and emerging technologies. We underscore the value of promoting interoperable, risk-based approaches to AI governance that encourage innovation while safeguarding democratic values, human rights, sustainability, and the rule of law. Legislators also need to ensure the protection of citizens, especially children, against unfair and hidden practices like addictive designing social media, AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery, or malicious use of misinformation. We also jointly affirm the critical need for the U.S. & EU to lead on future artificial intelligence development. Our relationship should ensure we maintain a security and economic advantage and avoid the use of such technology for nefarious or harmful purposes.

We reaffirm the need for legal frameworks that prevent the abuse of powerful AI models by authoritarian powers.

Transatlantic Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific

We recognize that a strong transatlantic partnership is essential to advancing our shared interests in the Indo-Pacific as our adversaries seek to intimidate and coerce our partners in the region. We commit to working with like-minded partners to promote regional stability, freedom of navigation, and secure supply chains while reducing critical dependencies and strengthening economic resilience.

We reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the East and South China Seas or across the Taiwan Strait.

We further commit to strengthening parliamentary dialogue and practical cooperation to support peace, security, and prosperity throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Strengthening Transatlantic Economic Cooperation

We recognize that the transatlantic economic partnership is the largest and most mutually beneficial economic relationship in the world and remains a cornerstone of our shared prosperity, resilience, and global leadership. Together, the nearly $9.8 trillion transatlantic economy accounts for more than one-third of global GDP, supports over $2.3 trillion in annual bilateral trade, and is underpinned by deep investment ties that create jobs and economic opportunity on both sides of the Atlantic. To keep this economic strength, we commit to expanding trade and investment and reducing barriers to transatlantic trade while respecting the economic and security interests of both partners.

We recognize the EU-US Framework Agreement reached in 2025 is intended to be a first step in a process that can be further expanded over time to cover additional areas and continue to improve market access and increase their trade and investment relationship.

We reaffirm that the transatlantic agricultural relationship is a vital component of our broader economic partnership, supporting economic growth, rural communities, and global food security. We recognize that food security is essential and that strong agricultural trade benefits producers and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. Meeting in one of the world’s leading agricultural regions, we support renewed efforts to reduce tariffs and unnecessary trade barriers affecting many specialty crops and agricultural products.

Conclusion

The transatlantic partnership remains critical to address the threats that we face collectively and individually. Through policy that strengthens the rule of law and efforts to create an environment fostering economic growth and sustainability, the US and EU will enable citizens to drive the relationship forward while maintaining our shared goals and values.

We remain committed to advancing these shared objectives through continued dialogue and coordinated action.