The leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, Iratxe García, and the S&D vice-president on foreign affairs, Pedro Marques, will be in New York from February 24th until the 26th, and in Washington DC from the 26th through March 1st. During this mission, they will be promoting a progressive agenda on topics like multilateralism and the war in Ukraine, sustainable development, the green transition, trade and women’s rights.

In New York, the S&D MEPs will hold high-level meetings in the United Nations on the first anniversary of the war in Ukraine. They will also meet the economist and Nobel Prize winner, Joseph Stiglitz.

In Washington DC, they will meet high-ranking officials of the Biden Administration and leading Democratic members of the House and Senate. These include Representatives Jim Costa and Lloyd Doggett, Senator Chris Murphy, as well as Representative Lois Frankel – an inspiring voice on women, abortion and MeToo movement, Representative Veronica Escobar – vice-chair of the Democratic Women's Caucus and co-chair of the Women’s Working Group on Immigration Reform, and Representative Maxwell A. Frost – youngest member of the chamber and first member of Generation Z elected to Congress.

On Tuesday 28th February, Iratxe García will address the European Union Caucus for the 118th US Congress on its inauguration day.

Iratxe García said:

“With the Biden Administration, we have a unique opportunity to advance the EU-US partnership for a multilateral order, based on rules, but also on values, democracy and human rights. There will be important elections both in Europe and in the United States in 2024, and we must work together to fight populism and those like Trump, Bolsonaro and Orban, who not only want to undermine democracy, but also want to go back to nationalistic and populist policies that jeopardise all the hard progress made at home and endanger the multilateral system based on trust and cooperation abroad. We see these forces working against women’s rights and criminalising migration, thus challenging crucial international legislation put in place after WWII.

“We must also work together to keep our unity in our support for Ukraine, and to establish a special international tribunal for the crime of aggression to hold Russia's political and military leadership accountable.

“A strategic alliance across the Atlantic is more important than ever and it can act as a positive force and a global catalyst in the face of today's shared challenges. It is time to strengthen our cooperation in all areas, including trade, and show other international players that healthy competition – based on rules and a level-playing field – creates quality jobs, is sustainable and raises global standards.”

S&D vice-president for foreign affairs, Pedro Marques MEP, added:

"The intensifying power rivalry in the world, and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, make absolutely clear the need for deepening political alliances between progressive forces in both sides of the Atlantic; to defend the rules-based international order, effective multilateralism and the Sustainable Development Goals.

"Working together, the EU and the USA can reinforce their role as standard setters in areas of strategic importance, promoting peace and fighting climate change, global poverty, injustice and inequalities."