The Transatlantic Partnership—A Legal and Institutional Appraisal

This chapter focuses on the European Union (EU)/United States (US) transatlantic relationship. It deals with its main features; the historic role of the US in supporting the recognition of the European Communities' legal personality in the international arena; the gradual institutionalisation of the EU/US transatlantic dialogue from the Single European Act (SEA) of 1987 the Lisbon Treaty of 2009 and the prospects for developing the transatlantic legal framework from the New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA) of 1995 into an overarching EU-US Partnership Treaty adjust today's increasingly globalized multipolar environment. Looking the future of the relationship the TAD commits both sides to develop and deepen the procedures so as reflect the evolution of the European Community and of its relationship with the United States. Initiatives for a 'Transatlantic Partnership Agreement' have been discussed in the past, e.g. in the European Parliament and in academic circles. Keywords: EU-US transatlantic relationship; European Communities' legal personality; institutional appraisal; New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA); Single European Act (SEA); transatlantic partnership agreement