S&D President, Iratxe García, has concluded four intense days of work in Washington DC joined by vice-presidents Kathleen Van Brempt and Yannis Maniatis, along with Brando Benifei, S&D coordinator in the INTA committee and chair of the European Parliament’s US delegation.
The delegation has maintained crucial meetings with progressive representatives at the US Department of State and the Capitol, including Bernie Sanders and Nancy Pelosi, and with representatives of multilateral organisations, including Nathalie Francken, executive director of the World Bank. They also exchanged views with experts from the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), the Atlantic Council, the Transatlantic Policy Network (TPN), the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI); and with relevant stakeholders from American University and members of the Capital Pride Alliance (CPA).
During the meetings, García stressed the importance of the union of democrats on both sides of the Atlantic to become the authentic and bold force to lead real change and reaffirm the necessary firmness of the European position in the tariff negotiations with the US.
Iratxe García said:
"Today, democracy, global stability, and trust are threatened by an extreme right that is well-coordinated and with the same scheme and arguments regardless of the country.
"We came to Washington DC with a clear objective, which is not to talk about the extreme right, but to talk about the future and to build an alternative progressive leadership that provides real solutions to our citizens' problems. It is very easy to use a scapegoat for everything without coming up with new proposals.
"We are building a constructive and strong alliance amongst those who defend democracy and multilateralism, those who work for global security, economic stability and growth and think about how to face global challenges such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical tensions. Citizens around the world demand an authentic and bold force for real change. We, the progressives, want to lead this change in a changing world that brings jobs, growth and prosperity while respecting diversity, justice, education, equality and democracy.
"This is a great opportunity to show our capacity by being firm on the EU-US trade talks – because we are the first ones who want a deal. But not just any, one that brings certainty and growth; one that upholds the values of the LGBTIQ+ community around the world; one that represents the voice of our youth when it comes to education, jobs, and decent housing.
"We must also act together in the realm of security. The war in Ukraine is the most direct attack on the international order since 1945. It is our responsibility to defend Ukraine – not only as a sovereign nation, but as a symbol that autocratic forces cannot prevail over international law. In the Middle East, the escalation in Gaza demands a principled response. Israel’s right to self-defence must never translate into collective punishment. We need an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid, and a renewed commitment to a two-state solution."
