EU invites Biden to usher in new era for trans-Atlantic ties

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is urging U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to help mend tattered trans-Atlantic ties and is inviting him to join it in a long-term “strategic dialogue” addressing global issues ranging from COVID-19 to climate change. EU foreign ministers on Monday described Europe’s ties with America as “the world’s foremost and closest relationship.” But ties have eroded under President Donald Trump. He has slapped tariffs on European exports, pulled out of major security agreements and spurned the multilateral approach to global challenges that the EU holds dear. But the 27-nation bloc knows it won’t all be plain sailing. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas says that “not everything will be different, but a lot will be better.”