Im fred kemp, ceo of the Atlantic Council. Madam, high representative, a sellout crowd. Theyre bursting out the doors and this unscores both recognition that we face historic moment in history, for europe, the transatlantic relationship, long before the november elects and that people are elections and that people are eager to hear what report you can give us from your trip thus far and also answer their questions and then my questions as moderator on a broader issues in the transatlantic relationship which we the Atlantic Council believe is the cornerstone for all u. S. Engage in the world. The Atlantic Council like to think of ourselves as the home for europe and washington, dc. Thus im honored today to welcome the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and the Vice President of the European Commission federica mogherini. Thank you for come toing to your home away from europe. We had a fascinating discussion last month the World Economic forum and i think it was apparent to everybody there at that time that were facing a particularly important time and thus im very interested to hear you comments and enter in discussion with you. Im also very pleased to welcome ambassador christian silverberg, who will more formally introduce our european guest. Ambassador silverberg is manager directogy of the institute of international finance, as the former u. S. Ambassador to the European Union, under george w. Bush, and the end of his term she brings special insight into this important dialogue. So without further adieu, the floor is yours. It is a great honor to be here the Atlantic Council to introduce federica mogherini, the high representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission. She is visiting washington at a time of some tumult and anxiety about the future of the transatlantic relationship. Challenging for the most determine translat thickist fromle letting our anxieties overremoras operations but our shared interests and values will be durable if we can dem upon straight to skeptical voters we can address challenges together. The threat of terrorism, the catastrophe in syria, the risks that iran will pursue a path warren to a nuclear weapon. These issues discussed with great serious and purpose in her role and we are fortunate to hear from her today. Fred, and high representative, the floor is yours. [applause] a lot of people and not a few cameras. So, i ill try to behave. I need not say were on the record. So, high representative you said your mission for the trip was to identify Common Ground. We have heard comments from the administration and during the campaign, the questions at times the existence of the European Union and also the Atlantic Council have heard the opposite as well in our dealings with people within the administration. After your meetings here in washington, dc over the last two days now . And impressive seven senators, secretary of state Rex Tillerson the National Security adviser, mike flynn, and others, which i think underscores the importance that the leaders of this administration accord the relationship. But i wasnt in the meetings, and so it would be interesting for us to hear what your takeaways were, what did you hear that was reassure, that leaves questions . Are you returning to europe changed in any of your views, more optimistic, less. So love to hear your trip report. Thank you for thank you for the invitation. Its my i thought it was my home away from home and my confusion is if any home is rome or brussels but it is home and i was just remember i first time i was still a member of the italian parliament, and this was already back then my home away from europe, so, its great to be here and thank you for having me here. And thanks to all of you for coming. I came here with a certain dose of optimism already, so i dont have to change my mind on that. I sat dish was coming, first of all to show that on the european side, there is a strong and deep belief and the fact that across the atlantic, we are friends. Our peoples are friends. They also do a lot of things together, from trade and investments, to Foreign Policy and security work, and also to reach out at an early stage with the new administration. And also with congress, and thats why so many meetings on the hill. Because thanks to me thats in this moment we need to talk from our european side to the different interlocutors in the u. S. , and i come back from this trip with a positive impression. You were not in the meetings but they were all good, very good. I dont know what the next week will be about but my meetings were excellent. So, what i am receiving as a message is first of great attention from my interlocutors and n washington to the work of the European Union and a clear message we want to continue working together. And this is the same message im bringing here. So, all good. Host so, the one name i failed to mention in listing your meetings what jared kushner, the special adviser to the president. He is taking on responsibility for the middle east. Dont expect you to reveal private conversations but in these meetings did you get a feeling of what priority would be for the administration or the individual iowa talked to in the e. U. Administration. Guest one purpose of the meetings were also from my side to make clear which priorities we have in europe, and that was, i think, important to do at an early stage because seems to me that policies in washington in this moment, are still in making, and that we have a space for defining together at an early stage in a very pratt pragmatic matter in which field well have common approach or common interest or common priority, and in which other fields or we might heave a different approach, different priorities, something can be very important for us and less important here. Or some other issues we might disagree. I have the impression that before i said all good, meaning out meetings were good and all messages were good, but i would not pretend, we do not have different views on some issues. So, what i can tell you is where european priorities are and what i see where Common Ground can be found, and maybe some other issues where we have different approaches. I see first of all Common Ground in the strong intention to Work Together. If i have to believe in all the messages i heard during my meetings, thats clear to me. Continued cooperation, strong e. U. Cooperation and work. Understanding well, think, i hope i contributed to this understanding in these two days that the European Union is not an institution, its 28 member states. Second, some Common Ground on some of our priorities that are common priorities. The fight against terrorists. The ambassador mentioned this. Solving the crises we have around us and globally. The situation in the east of ukraine, syria, terrorism, not only the middle east but also spreading spreading in some parts of africa. We have for sure work that can do together there. We have on the european side top eye appropriates Top Priorities where we might find some different views across the atlantic today. How to face the middle east process, there we share the priority and might have some differences on how we face them. And i see im very open and not hiding any of the difficulties. We might have some other issues where we see as europeans we need to put this issues as a priority and maybe here not so much. Climate change, free trade, free and fair trade, and an International Global system of trade. Maybe some human rights issues but not for me to define the american agenda that i understand is still in making. What i can do is to bring the european agenda, put it on the table and in a very pragmatic, open, constructive, friendly, many transactional approach, see where we can Work Together or might have differences and how we make the most of this partnership. Among the things on which we might have different views is the global approach to migration and refugees and the list can continue put it see Common Ground, space for common work and i understand that many policies are still in the making. I forgot to mention one important thing on which i found some Common Ground, which is the nuclear deal with iran, gcpoa. For me that was a priority that is a priority to preserve the deal, have a strong u. S. Commitment to its full implementation, which means strict, and implex addition is either in place or not implement addition is either in place or not and i come back with some reassurances on this. Host i saw you tweet that earlier guest i also tweet. And i also do it myself. Host so, even more room for Common Ground. Guest definitely. Host what guest even if im considering starting to milwaukee my team check my tweets before they two out. Host i wont comment on that. Maybe you can talk a little bit about the iran conversation. What did you hear there that you found reassuring . Guest i heard from all my the intention to make sure that the deal is 100 implemented. This requires all parties, which means mainly iran on its Nuclear Commitments but also the International Community to fulfill the commitments that are agreed in the agreement, in the deal, and for me personally this is a very important thing to do because i still have special institutional role in chairing the joint commission that overviews the implementation of the deal. That not a bilateral deal. That is now belonging to the International Community. Through the u. S. Security Council Resolution that endorse is and it it was important for me to pass the message, that i think was understood, its key for our security as we are in the same region of iran to see the deal immigrant deal is implemented and we have had four eye iaea reports. This is singh that for europe, and this is essential for europe. And there are other issues where we share concern with the u. S. Administration and maybe otherness the world that are not related to the Nuclear Program of iran. Not related to the nuclear agreement. The role of iran in some regional conflicts, starting from yemen or syria, reports of terrorist activities, the missile tests, and things like that. Would add a european human rights on that penalty. Know this is a different story here but for us its an important point. At europeans we have our sanctions in place for nonNuclear Related issues with iran and some cases our sanctions are tougher than the american ones. So we also are concerned about some of the things, but what is clear to us as europeans, altogether, and what i also conveyed here in my meetings is that europe feels an interest and a responsibility to engage with iran, especially as long as the nuclear deal is fully implemented on their site, on their Nuclear Commitments. We will continue to engage with iran, being it in i know this is not the u. S. Policy but it is the european policy and will continue. We have limitation of the bcpoa where i have sent here certain degree of commitment to stick to that. Our common concern on nonNuclear Related issues, on the role of iran, and where we have different policies but that was the case over the Previous Administration the european way has always been the case with iran, is one of engagement and that will continue, and i think its very important that the iranians, the iranian citizen, hear this from europe. Host thank you for that. On russia, weve heard different statements at different times from the administration and the president , administration signaled the u. S. Sanctions against russia would remain in place. On the other hand, there seems to be a desire to significantly improve the relationship with russia. For the extend you can, how did this tell us how this came up in your conversations and where do you see potential commonalities commonalities and differences on the issue of russia, in particular ukraine. Guest if i can, its quite weird if i can just have replex are thinking aloud the first time i dom washington and rather than being questioned on the e. U. Positions on russia or syria, whatever, aisle questioned about the u. S. Positions. Its host could you please tell us what the u. S. Position is. Guest im not sure i can. No. Some things i do im not sure its focused for me. But thats an interesting its also the first time that the main focus of my steroid washington is bilateral relations rather than and this is the new era were entering in. On russia, first of all, for europeans, its clear we have a twotrack policy with russia there are five on which we work very well with russia. The iran deal is a perfect example of that. The middle east process is where palestine is on example where the europeans and russians work well together Health Similar views. Other issue where we work a lot and well together. This for perception that europe doesnt talk to russia is a misperception and a couple years ago would have been asked if we were not talking to much to the russians. So things changed in an interesting manner. We have a strong policy and principled policy when it comes to ukraine. This is very serious to us. Not only for the situation in the east of ukraine itself and in crimea, but also because for us europeans its essential to understand each other, especially across the transatlantic, on the basic vital principle that you do not change borders by force. A must of our cooperation. The transatlantic this has never been put into question. And i believe this is related not only the principles of International Law, which is, but also its matter of security for europe, and i believe that many of my european fellow citizens in the east of our continent are potentially a bit nervous about question marks that could be put here on this approach. Also, my meetings were focused and in particular we agreed that as long as the minsk agreements nor not implemented sanctions would remain in place. But i dont know if this is going to be the policy and as you were not in my meetings i was not in the oval office when President Trump called president putin. But for us this is an essential point and i believe that this is not a Central Point not only for europeans but in congress this is an essential point as well. Host and if there is a thaw of some sort in relationships between u. S. And russia, which is a possibility, even if sanctions should remain in place, do you foresee the e. U. Members will have restful stay firm on sanctions under the set current circumstances where minsk has not been host europeans will be united on that. Dont notify if america will. For us i want to be clear. For us, the sanctions are not a policy itself. Its not something we take turk pleasure in having. For us its an instrument to put pressure and achieve the result. For us the result is not keeping the sanctions. The result is the conflict in ukraine improvement we also discussed especially with secretary tillerson, how we can better support or help the implementation of the minsk agreement and this is perfectly fine because the real objective is to achieve peace, respect of International Law and also also also in crimea. The of im confident it will be clear in unity because although that over the years have bet on european to divide itself from this have been wrong and i think this will continue to be the case but i cannot answer for the u. S. I can say i was receiving messages but i dont know if there was any division in the u. S. On this. Hope not. Host thank you for that. Im going to ask one or two more questions and then good to the audience you. Said the e. U. Is ready for a transactional way of working the United States, worked in past and also today. I guess the Atlantic Council the notion of a transactional relationship for the transatlantic partners would seem a step backwards. So, would you think this is sufficient and what do you mean when you say transactional way . Guest i have a feeling this is a moment in history where we have to where were called to avoid giving it for granted, that people understand the add value of our friendship, which is said, i agree. I preferred to have the partnership, friendship based on this automatic with hat in the last years of turning to each other and agreeing things to do naturally. But if there is a need to recall the need for a add value of the European Union to america, then were ready to do so who and i would just mention 0 couple of very basic things that here in the Atlantic Council are selfevident but maybe we need to stress them. One is economic relation we have. 80 of Foreign Investments in the u. S. Come from europe, come from the European Union. 80 seniors. 80 . Not 18. I think were bringing a couple million more jobs in america with european investments. And i think you cannot find many states in the United States that are not having 300,000, 400,000 jobs created in europe, from europe in america. If this is a transactional way of doing things . I dont know but we need each other and its not europe that needs america only. Its america that needs europe. And we better recognize that, to have a serious conversation. The other thing is security. And even if europe the European Union is not nato and we cannot make the two organizations overlap. There is a big elephant in the room, that is, the investment in our common security. And in europe, we started well before the november elections. Last summer to work very seriously on strengthening the european defense, within the European Union, and to me it was very strange because i spent months from july to october, november even, reassuring washington and the other side of brussels, which means nato hawks, this was not to undermine nato and not in competition with nato and now to strengthen nato, and now im explaining its good, nato and this is the european way. When i put this in the transactional box because you know thats article 5 was invoked only once and that was after 9 11 and europeans have carried the burden for our common commitments to security in the world. Through nato, but also through other means. The European Union is a security provider and also a hard power, even if this is not perceived to much here. We have 16 military missions in the world. The political challenges and then the elections this year with germany and so on. From that standpoint how serious do you think the stanches are and more importantly, what could be the contribution be . Click at worst and best Case Scenario. I think this date of our union is not good and i recently said that the European Union and europe about in general is like a 16 yearold beautiful girl who now finds herself ugly and finds everything going wrong. Were going to be celebrating this year but america thinks Europe Police itself as much as america does because we are much more powerful and stronger. If you think about the european export the existential crisis because eight months after the u. K. Has not formally notified their willingness. They dont seem to be in a hurry to get out. And by the way it will continue to be the case for another couple of years. Before and minister and the defense minister. So not only are these and still take by consensus because number states see this as their own interest with the trade agreements negotiated by the European Union. Did is important to state also publicly or privately if that is the case there is also the trade part of the relevance and the economic power. Ill have one case of the United States because that is all be except but no interference. Not on u. S. Domestic politics it is not for me to comment on that. Not on political decisions is a great democracy is not for me to comment on your choices or decisions. We dont see elections as a major challenge i have confidence in the european democracies so America First bad seems like gave menem all approach and would be satisfied with that and i say no interference because i here in North Carolina messages not from my meetings here but i do hear rumors or i see people inviting europeans to do one thing or the other. And they have to make clear that we are grateful to america and i stop here. With our economies in democracies. Were turning 60 this year as a union and we are a global power the wish we could have a friendship that would be a natural friendship and help each other with their economy is that is the best Case Scenario we have never had such a Strong Partnership that has been ideal. But as i hear sometimes it is not necessarily a good idea to dismantle with economic strength. Dennis r. With do no harm. [laughter] dicey questions. As a kelso here and washington to engage the american interlocutor would about diversity and pluralism across the atlantic . To make you did in to your opening comments there could be differences of opinion. Is not for me to comment of the decisions i do not comment in my old country but it is for the United States to find their own way. And we struggled quite a lot because flashier is the year before was a quite painful experience in to be struggling for years to have a common European Response finally from the European Union from the partnership banned corporation to save life at sea and in the desert. Investing and local developments. And respect for the dignity. For whenever they are and whatever backgrounds they have. This is still controversial . Yes it is. And with that allusion that migration that between the illusion of stopping the flow of people to say then everybody can come in to establish that Global Impact of that partnership and a respect of humanrights. But we tend to be quite sensitive and the symbolism of that is strong. When it comes to the idea that they and are empowered. Maybe because europe is always a continent and immigration. America has always been great because people in coming from different places. But we know what it means to have to move around. All because youre simply looking for a better place. But it means the irrational and humane that is quite an issue. But if reword to imagine tomorrow that all migrants that our economy would collapse immediately. But again it doesnt mean it does not have to be managed. But i guess we have a different approach. Not to say you are wrong but in a different manner. And sitting next to our board member. I am the ambassador and it is good to see you. Speaking about parties and i am very happy to hear that the i hope people the it flows through to my country. The department of Energy Security with parts of our security. It does not mean it would not be and i have an excellent opportunity but by the way hosting in the coming weeks but of the european side. I am from voice of america. And with of Justice Reform investing heavily in this reform with concerns expressed in with some of kurds in with this feature of the implementation and to Work Together with the issue is. With the u. S. Adopting the standoff but you know, how of fortune to the corporation has spent for the region. But first on judicial reform i have the honor of the unanimous vote of the judicial reform. But what is important it is now the same determination and that the albanians that this is key. This to go forward on the European Union. That is an open path. A hope this will manage to be built to but i think when it comes to the interest and that message indeed for the European Union is key and priority and not this way to europe and for us with the European Union and the corporations and finally with that integration is essential. And to see these better engagements. So with all love of leadership to make sure this continues to have been. I have been trying to catch people as i see them. So i will pick up one here and years. When chancellor merkle congratulated President Trump she also talked about the values now hearing your comments today with a transactional approach with that difference of degree or what is the balance between that transactional approach . Thanks for your leadership in is reassuring to hear you say your confident to the implementation of the agreement but as we approach some key deadlines the waiver dates that iran may interpret to be those violations as the old Nuclear Related sanctions can we navigate through that period . Spirit the most frequent question that i get is to be concerned were not leaving. And even with those implementations we will monitor carefully with the implementation of the deal in its entirety. Bedded this a clear european interest. To preserve the agreements. With confidence and optimism but i can tell you the undetermined nation is strictly implemented. And on the previous question but until you one thing that is not clear that there is no distinction with the european attitudes toward the United States not because i read that somewhere about one week ago and to make a back from washington and chancellor with our approach to the Transatlantic Partnership and not like the word transactional too much but i would talk about a pragmatic approach that assume our common values and with a sense of friendship with a sense of priorities there not an interest of the discussion. And would not be looking for word to the new institutions. On the basis of the interest. And when it comes with the priorities. I know you do have to go to another meeting thanks to the people to stay in their seats so you can get out as expeditiously as possible but i will say couple of things in closing. This is the time for you to be bin the United States and, frequently. I will be here next month and the voice is important. I am not sure that transatlantic relationship plays the of role for the future on behalf of the audience they give so much for taking the time. [applause] washington journal continues. Host we are back here with david. Lets talk about your report they did. Muslim american involvement with violent extremism. This issued last month. What did you find . We found in terms of the number of perpetrators that violent extremism by muslim peak ins reached a 2015. Of aest level of a arrests violent incidences that we had. That dropped by 40