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The United States and Europe share a long history of political friendship, economic cooperation, and military alliance. Today, our future is more intertwined than ever before. I have no doubt that the United States will continue to play a vital role in helping European states develop, prosper, and forge new partnerships with the United States. As the Ranking Democratic Member on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Commission) and former President of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly, I frequently have the occasion to meet with European heads of state, foreign ministers, European parliamentarians, and other officials. The friendship and cooperation between the United States and European institutions are of great importance as we work together to address common challenges in our ever-changing world. I have long championed the fight against any type of discrimination in Europe. Sadly, Americans and Europeans share a common history of discriminatory practices, especially racial and religious, and both continents have undertaken similar struggles to put an end to this injustice. This is why I have worked with my European counterparts to address the issue cooperatively. I have partnered with European officials to keep the memory of the Holocaust and its victims alive and to continue to fight against anti-Semitism on both continents. I also hosted several Black European Summits to raise awareness of the challenges Black Europeans face. Additionally, I have worked to end inter-ethnic conflicts, such as violence against the Roma people.
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