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Victory a small step for Europe
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Barack Obama's groundbreaking victory marks a giant step for politics but just a small step for transatlantic relations.
His political achievement is being widely welcomed and acclaimed across Europe, but no one expects significant changes in EU-US ties.
Conservative MEP Jonathan Evans said: "Despite the fact that this is an historic moment, despite all the expectations, particularly arising from a Barack Obama victory, some people might be disappointed to find that not very much in terms of actual policy (towards Europe) will be different.
"There may be a difference of engagement with the EU but we would be very foolish if we assumed that Barack Obama will represent a completely new approach."
Mr Evans, a member of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with the US Congress, went on: "Having said that, a new president does present a huge new opportunity, because although George Bush had become more engaged with Europe during his second term of office, he did not entirely overcome the damage in relations caused by the Iraq war."
From Europe's point of view, some EU-US policies would change for the better under either Mr Obama or Mr McCain. Others would be advanced more by Mr Obama - and others more under a McCain administration.
Mr Obama will certainly change America's stance towards climate change - but so would Republican Mr McCain.
And while Mr McCain's free-trade stance would have been welcomed in Europe to help revive stalled world trade talks, President-elect Mr Obama's protectionist tendencies make him potentially tougher to deal with, not just on trade but in tackling the global economic crisis.
On defence, Europe would have been under renewed pressure from Washington to step up military spending in the Nato alliance whichever man won the White House.
And on foreign policy, a less hawkish Democrat in charge might be welcome in terms of scaling back the US presence in Iraq, but Mr Obama has already made clear he wants a significant military commitment from the UK and other European allies in Afghanistan.
Reader views (9)
Obama - Big mouth, small brain, no guts. Yea, just what we need.
- Kenny L, Phila. USA, 11/11/2008 07:18
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Mark and Cindy:
Don't get your hopes up that Obama will bring to fruition all his grandiose plans. He is between a rock and hard place and if he wants to be re-elected he is going to have to make some big compromises. The hard core from blue states will put his feet to the fire to make good on his promises and the newly elected democrats from the moderate states that changed from D to R as retaltion against Bush will have to listen to their still conservative constituents if they want to be re-elected. THE CASH REGISTER IS EMPTY and there will be a taxpayer revolt if Obama wants to fund his programs through higher taxes. As for withdrawal from Iraq, he will simply transfer the war and the military from Iran to Afghanistan and, of course, the billions of dollars that go with it. He may be a one-term president if he does not compromise. If Obama wants two terms, he must govern from the center right. Just ask Bill Clinton. That's what he did when he saw the big picture.
- Margo, Philadelphia, PA, 05/11/2008 17:28
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Hello to London. Don't pay attention to idiots like Kenny L from Philly. I voted Obama and unfortunately I'm in a red state whose electoral votes went to McCain. The American people have spoken Kenny. Not only did he win electorally, but he won the popular vote as well. I predict Obama will be the best President the US ever had and will improve relations all over the world. His humility is a refreshing change from the egotistical, all-knowing Bush who single-handedly drove this nation into ruin and destroyed our image in the world with his bullying. Good riddance to the worst President this country ever had.
- Cindy, Atlanta, USA, 05/11/2008 14:36
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To Kenny L from Philadelphia,
Looks like you've drunk the Bush punch a bit too often? To even sugest that an ant is less intelegant than Bush would be disrespectful to the ant.. As for Obama, I voted for him hoping that he'll be able to bring the change he's promising.. McCain just showed how much he was being controled by the extreme right during the election and he finally showed the real McCain during his concession speach.. If McCain had not picked Palin and actually spoke like he did last night during the rest of the election, he would have had a much better shot of winning.. Congrats to Obama and may Palin fall back into the obscurity where she came.. When I was asked the other day why I couldn't see McCain in power, I gave the following answer.. "The thought of Palin in any form of power in this country makes me want to crawl up in a corner and wet myself"
- Mark R., Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA, 05/11/2008 14:33
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BHO can deliver a speech with the best of them, however, he has NO experience leading. He believes in heavily taxing those of us who make more than $42,000USD and just handing out to those do not. He's not interested getting those folks to attempt to get to work and better themselves. I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling Joe Biden was right on when he said there is going to be an international crisis within the first 6 months. I'm scared for our country!
- Michael, Chicago, IL, USA, 05/11/2008 14:24
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Have we reached a situation now where Europe, Britain in particular, is now the more repressive and more sinister, less democratic continent? Can we keep up. Can WE?
- Roger, Southwark, SE1, 05/11/2008 14:18
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Wait and see. Expectations are running much too high.
- Anglo, Sussex UK, 05/11/2008 13:14
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The comment expressed by Kenny L appears critical and offensive. Au contraire, Barack Obama's own words and demeanour make it clearly evident to all that he is an orator of higher emotional intelligence and insight than George Bush, who has shown at every turn exactly what sort of human being he is. The whole world has woken up happy that a person of integrity, new President Obama, has been elected. May he prosper and may the work begin in making America a country that works with the rest of the world in peace and not in intiating heart-rending and bloody wars that kill innocents and wreak havoc and pain. The future now seems less potentially clouded and we can dare to have hopes now, whereas than yesterday's prospects seemed limited and depressing.
- Alison C, London UK, 05/11/2008 10:32
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Glad you're not getting your hopes up too much. This guy is less intelligent and more dangerous than Bush. He does give a good dreamy speech however. Don't say I didn't warn you.
- Kenny L, Phila. USA, 05/11/2008 07:26
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