The change in the agreement highlights the growing sense of mistrust in transatlantic relations and reflects how Brussels viewed Washington’s deeper shift under the current U.S. administration.
New security measures apply to commissioners and senior officials at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank spring meetings to Washington next week.
Four people familiar with this footthe latest guidance is consistent with procedures that have already visited countries with high surveillance risks.
Among the EU delegations to meet next week are Valdis Dombrovskis (Economic), Maria LuÃs Albuquerque (Financial Services) and Jozef SÃkela (Development Aid). They are expected to represent the EU in high-level talks, even as concerns about security and trust put a long-term shadow on diplomatic exchanges.
The sensitive technology left behind
Under the new directive, officials are advised not to bring standard laptops or mobile devices to the United States because they are concerned that these may be vulnerable to espionage. Instead, they provide basic hardware – devices with minimal functionality that can be easily wiped or discarded after traveling.
Staff were also instructed to power the phone on the border cell phone and store it in a shielded sleeve without being looked after to prevent potential data blocking. While no formal written guidelines on burner phones have been issued, sources confirmed foot The agreement has been implemented quietly.
“They are worried about the United States entering the commission system,” a news media official.
New safety posture in the United States
Historically, this defense has been linked to visits to countries such as China or Russia, which have well documented cyber and intelligence threats.
Now, the United States is being treated with similar caution, a clear indicator of the erosion of trust between Washington and Brussels.
A committee spokesperson also confirmed foot The security guidelines for U.S. travel have been recently revised and the EU’s diplomatic services involve updates.
Officials were also directed to ensure visas were placed in diplomatic travel documents rather than in national passports, reducing unnecessary risks of scrutiny, the report noted.
Luuk van Middelaar, director of the Institute for Geopolitics of the Brussels think tank, said the move was pragmatic, not provocative.
“Washington is not Beijing or Moscow, but an adversary, and it is easy to use extra-legal methods to promote its interests and powers,” he told him. foot
He pointed out that surveillance issues are nothing new, citing the alleged U.S. attacks the then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cell phone in 2013.
“The Democratic government adopts the same strategy,” he said. He added: “This is the committee’s acceptance of reality.”
Tensions in the Trump era
As relations between the EU and the United States become increasingly fragile, Donald Trump’s escalating security posture has become increasingly fragile after returning to the president in January.
President Trump has made aggressive remarks against the European Union, accusing it of “smashing the United States”.
He imposed a 20% tariff on EU exports – a 90-day reduction – and continued to put pressure on NATO to obtain security assurances from Europe and suspend military aid to Ukraine unless critical requirements are met.
A senior EU official made a distinct assessment. “The Transatlantic Alliance is over,” he told him. foot
Diplomatic tensions and trade struggles
Despite the deterioration of the climate, efforts to resolve ongoing disputes continue.
According to reports foot
The EU has authorized retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods worth 21 billion euros to deal with taxes on steel and aluminum, although implementation has been temporarily delayed.
Tensions in the digital policy field are also increasing.
U.S. officials accused the EU of overregulating U.S. tech companies and stifling free expression, which was allegedly affected by Tiktok’s popularity amid a controversial loss of the Romanian presidential candidacy.
Surveillance at the U.S. border
Another issue focusing on EU cautious approach is granting broad authority to U.S. border agents who can check digital devices and censor social media content.
In many cases, European scholars and professionals have been denied access to laptops or viewed the material found on a politically sensitive phone.
In such incidents, the French government confirmed that a researcher was returned from the United States after sharing a “personal opinion” about U.S. research policy.
