Sandro Gozi, European Democrats meet New York Mayor, several US politicians in Washington

Four French European parliamentarians from the European Democratic Party will travel to Washington and New York next week for high-level meetings with U.S. lawmakers, government officials and think tanks on pressing policy challenges.

Meetings begin Monday 14 November in New York with city and United Nations officials. Mayor Eric Adams will exchange on cybersecurity, digitalisation and disinformation. The New York leg features visits to United Nations officials about digital, culture and education policy issues. A meeting with the World Economic Forum will explore thinking on Smart Cities, financing the energy transition and the digital transition framework.

The delegation’s Washington agenda aims to expand talks with U.S. Democratic counterparts and find ways to work more closely on common issues. These include defeating populism by reforming society and defending democracy and rule of law. Regulation of digital services, job creation, and social affairs were also on the agenda, along with issues affecting culture and young people.

EDP Secretary General Sandro Gozi, who leads the EDP delegation, said: “Visiting with lawmakers gives us better chances of tackling the pressing challenges Europeans and Americans all face. Security concerns are top of the list in areas like energy, climate change, digital disruption, and populism. We also must plan for a future where people can live full lives, keeping these threats in check.”

The Washington leg features a mid-week roundtable at the U.S. Capitol with Congress members Steve Cohen (D-Tennessee), Betty McCollum (D-Minnesota), Brenda Lawrence (D-Michigan), Shontel Brown (D-Ohio), Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), and Ed Perlmutter (D-Colorado).

Separate one-on-one meetings are scheduled with Representatives Rosa Delauro (D-Connecticut), Bobby Scott (D-Virginia) and Don Beyer Jr. as well as Senate staffers. Appointments follow with the Democratic National Committee, the National Democratic Institute, and the non-partisan Center for American Progress think tank.

Three French MEPs join Gozi within the EDP parliamentary delegation:

• Sylvie Brunet, Renew Europe Group Vice President and Vice-Coordinator for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs ;
• Laurence Farreng, Renew Europe Group Coordinator for the Committee on Culture and Education; and
• Christophe Grudler, Renew Europe Group Vice-Coordinator for the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy.

The trip comes as the European Parliament closes out 2022 and the ramp-up for the European 2024 elections begins next year. The one-week mission by centre-leaning MEPs aims to build on a visit last year that forged partnerships with policymakers on areas of interest to both European and U.S. citizens.

Gozi added: “The visit forms the next step in the EDP’s strategy is to strengthen relations with the United States. The historical links between U.S. and European cities remain strong. The EDP delegation wants to strengthen cultural, historical and economic links and share ideas about tailoring policies to citizens’ future needs.