Perspectives from the UK (London)

Atlantic Perspectives Interview Report, nº. 10

Interviews in London informed us about the stakeholders’ perceptions in four thematic areas of the Atlantic Future project, which include: economy and finance, security, people and institutions, resources and environment. Main themes of focus were: changes over the past 20 years; drivers for change or continuity; prospective view of the changes and continuities in the region; actors and regional leaders (state or non-state level); relevance of the EU; perceptions on the evolution of the EU’s role in the region over the past 20 years; and finally the convergence or divergence of norms within the Atlantic space. Based on the interview results in the UK, the paper reports that developments in the Atlantic have led to a proliferation of economic and non-economic initiatives amongst various Atlantic actors, both in the North and South. In the North, the North Atlantic community and the USA and EU is undergoing major changes in economic, security and political terms. Following the spectacular rise of Brazil and Africa, the focus has been gradually shifting from the EU and USA and new dynamics is evolving in the Atlantic space. However, a Pan Atlantic space is not really emerging but if the ongoing Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the EU and USA were successful this could herald the beginning of a new Atlantic space. The EU is and continues to be an important player in the Atlantic, and is likely to play an influential role in the reconfiguration of the Atlantic space.