The Transatlantic Relationship: Common Interests?

What is the state of common interests across the Atlantic? Lord Palmerston's dictum that states have permanent interests masks the fact that interest perception is subjective and variable. It is defined differently across the Atlantic as well as within Europe, where we find a mix of distinct national interests set in the context of the European Union. The debt crisis in Europe has resurfaced the question where lie the common interests of the EU countries. NATO and the EU are vehicles that help shape common interests. The issue now is how to fit into a global setting the issue of defining common interests in the transatlantic relationship. This comes back to leadership.