What should  Europe expect from the incoming Biden administration, and what are Joe Biden's views on some of the biggest European issues?

Ahead of Biden's inauguration in Washington D.C. this coming week, CGTN Europe spoke to David O'Sullivan, former EU ambassador to the U.S. 

The man, Biden 

O'Sullivan worked in D.C. during the Obama administration, when Biden served as Vice President. 

"I think the great thing about incoming President Biden is that he is a very decent human being," said the former civil servant.  "He's had a lot of sorrow in his life, a lot of grief. He has come through all of that. He's a very human person."

He added the Biden would represent a significant change in the way the U.S. is perceived internationally. 

"He will rebuild people's respect for the basic decency of America and the the desire of America to be a force for good in the world, which, frankly, was less than evident with the previous president, if I may say so."

Three's a crowd? Brexit and the future

O'Sullivan, who was also representing the bloc in the U.S. when the UK decided to leave the European Union said the U.S generally saw the choice as "regrettable."

"They felt that having the UK inside the EU was a positive influence on European debates."

O'Sullivan said the "United States had decided that it needed to diversify its contacts."

"I think the UK's global influence will be diminished by leaving the European Union rather than enhanced, as the Brexiteers would claim. But I think the U.S. has already had to digest that reality and has already created channels of communication with other parts, other countries in the European Union to replace that," he told CGTN Europe.

But O'Sullivan, himself Irish, dismissed  as "nonsense" the idea that Biden is in some way anti-British due to his Irish Catholic roots. 

"He will value that relationship as highly as any other American president."

Big hopes for Big Tech 

One of the most divided areas of cross-Atlantic discussion is the role of tech in today's societies, and specifically how the internet giants such as Google, Facebook and Amazon that come under the umbrella "Big Tech," should be managed. 

The former ambassador diplomatically bridged the political gap between the blocs, pointing to the "legitimate" concerns of U.S. firms facing harsher taxation than others, and the European hope that Biden and his team will engage in the OECD process to solve the issue internationally. 

"I hope that we can find a solution in Paris through the OECD, which is a basis, then, for whatever happens… with which the Americans can feel comfortable. Whether we can get there, time will tell. But I'm convinced that this administration will come to the table, at least willing to discuss and to listen in ways that, frankly, the previous administration was unwilling to do."

Boeing vs Airbus (continued...) 

The other big commercial discussion between lawmakers in the U.S. and Europe is the role of state finance, most obviously seen in the 20-year argument over plane manufacturers Boeing and Airbus. O'Sullivan told CGTN Europe he is hopeful the two sides can come to an agreement - especially in the face of new Chinese competition. 

"It's in Europe's interest and the United States interest to come together to redefine an acceptable basis for how large civilian aircraft can be funded and try to make this the basis of an international understanding, which will also limit the ability of new competitors to subsidize their way into the market," he said. 

Before the inauguration: the insurrection

Finally, O'Sullivan offered his brief thoughts on the events in Washington on 6 January. He said he hoped the violent riot which claimed 5 lives was a "blip" of sorts, because although the events on Capitol Hill were distressing, they are not unique to the U.S., and neither is the solution.

"Nobody is immune from these kinds of changes, which are deeply disturbing. But I believe that we will be able, as Europeans with this new administration, to continue to promote those values, perhaps with a little more humility," he said. 

Video Editor: Nuri Moseinco