A delegation from the European Parliament is set to visit Washington DC from Wednesday to Friday for high-level discussions with members of the U.S. Congress, aimed at

reinforcing transatlantic ties.

The visit comes amid heightened global trade tensions following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of major tariffs affecting international partners. Led by Brando Benifei (S&D, Italy), the delegation will focus on preparations for the upcoming session of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD)—a key platform for collaboration between the European Parliament and U.S. lawmakers.

During their stay, the MEPs will meet with members of the U.S. House committee focused on strategic competition with China, as well as with the newly appointed leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and members of the House EU Caucus. Topics on the agenda include the situation in Ukraine, EU-NATO cooperation, bilateral trade relations, ties with China, and the overall state of transatlantic cooperation.

In addition to congressional meetings, the delegation will engage with officials from the U.S. State Department, representatives from prominent think tanks, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Thursday and Friday.

The delegation is composed of members from the expanded bureau of the TLD. Alongside Mr. Benifei, the group includes European Parliament Vice-President Sophie Wilmès (Renew Europe, Belgium), Foreign Affairs Committee Chair David McAllister (EPP, Germany), International Trade Committee Chair Bernd Lange (S&D, Germany), and Michał Szczerba (EPP, Poland), the standing rapporteur for U.S. relations in the Foreign Affairs Committee. Photo by Bjoertvedt, Wikimedia commons.