THE HAGUE – On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and co-Chair of the Senate NATO Observer Group, and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE), Ranking Member of the Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission.
Senator Shaheen and Senator Coons conveyed their appreciation for the European Union’s robust actions to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for his aggression in Ukraine and discussed the European Union’s upcoming 18th sanctions package. The Senators also discussed the importance of moving quickly on the Graham-Blumenthal sanctions bill to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin and force him to the negotiating table.
Senator Shaheen and Senator Coons stressed the importance of the trade relationship between the United States and the European Union which benefits households on both sides of the Atlantic. Senator Shaheen raised the significance of the Western Balkans and expressed hope that European Union membership will become a reality for candidate countries who meet the required criteria.
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