Transatlantic Approaches to International Law

It is often said that the United States and the European Union are moving in significantly different directions in terms of their commitment to the existing international legal framework and the priority they place on the major international institutions. The debate over “multilateralism vs unilateralism” has been one of the sharpest in the transatlantic arena, and there have been specific disagreements about the ABM treaty, the International Criminal Court, the legality of pre-emptive military operations, and other issues.

The Program on Transatlantic Relations explores the nature and extent of actual U.S. and European differences over these issues and the broader topic of the role of the international legal system and its major institutions. Through workshops and conferences on this issue, it attempts to identify areas in which we might take some steps to reduce transatlantic differences or even build cooperation.