It is with great pleasure that we invite you to discover this new transatlantic online platform featuring the Transatlantic Economy annual survey, with its authoritative and up to data on the state and importance of the transatlantic economy, as well as commentary by stakeholders from the EU and the US.

Americans and Europeans enjoy the most integrated economic relationship on the world. The facts and figures of the world’s largest market speak for themselves: the transatlantic economy represents 16 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic, and a third of global GDP in purchasing power terms.

These relations between our consumers and our businesses, bearing testimony to the interlinked nature of our economies, are the backbone of the transatlantic bond. These economic and personal ties, together with our shared history and values, are what keeps the transatlantic relationship so enduring, whatever the passing diplomatic strains of the moment.

The numbers and analysis in the survey constitute a useful tool for us as lawmakers trying to address the opportunities and challenges ahead, for example in the digital domain. They are also important for us as fervent supporters of the transatlantic relationship, as they show its true extent. The unique documentation of both European and American sourced jobs, trade and investment in each of the 50 US states and 28 EU member states and other European countries, is a case in point.

In February 2019, during the most recent meeting of our Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD), members of the European Parliament and the US House of Representatives emphasised our common belief in a rules-based, open and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system, which helps us fight unfair trade policies and practices and set international standards together.

We also remain fully committed to free, fair and rules-based trade between the US and the EU, in order to bolster economic growth and create jobs. De-escalating current trade tensions and establishing a positive agenda, is therefore essential to bringing concrete results for our citizens and strengthening further our trade and investment relationship, which is a key driver for global economic growth.

This new transatlantic online platform will certainly help all of us in that direction and we wish every success to this initiative!