Brussels, 04/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU/United States summit in Washington on 3 November, which brought together American President Barack Obama and the three highest-level representatives of the EU - Fredrik Reinfeldt, the president-in-exercise of the European Council, José Manuel Barroso, President of the Commission and Javier Solana, High Representative for the CFSP - made several solid commitments, notably to create a new ministerial council on energy (see other article), to promote an "ambitious and comprehensive international agreement" on climate change at the Copenhagen conference (see other article), to create a working group on antimicrobial resistance and to resume dialogue on development. The meeting closed with the adoption of the joint declaration, the entire text of which has been published at http: //http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/er/110929.pdf .
As regards international politics, the two sides also adopted a joint declaration on non-proliferation and disarmament. In it, the Americans and Europeans reaffirmed their commitment to "create the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons" and to "preserve and strengthen the authority and integrity of the NPT". The EU's proposals for the revision of the NPT in 2010 were welcomed. Both sides also pleaded for a swift entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); in the meantime, the moratorium on nuclear test explosions must be observed by all states. The USA and the EU also reiterate their support for the control work carried out by the IAEA and stressed the need to fight "nuclear terrorism" in order to prevent terrorists from being able to acquire weapons of mass destruction (WMD). As regards the Iranian nuclear programme, both sides stressed that it is up to the Iranian authorities to convince the international community of the "exclusively peaceful" nature of their nuclear programme. Tehran is called on to make a constructive and serious commitment to the dialogue which was relaunched with China, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and the United States in Geneva on 1 October of this year. The objective must be to find a long-term solution which is global and based on the observation of the resolutions of the UN Security Council, both sides stress. North Korea is also called on to respect its international commitments and to "take steps towards irreversible and verifiable denuclearisation". The situation in Afghanistan was also discussed. After the re-election of Hamid Karzaï to the presidency of the country, Europeans and Americans are now waiting for the new government to tackle the problems of governance, respect for human rights and the development of democracy in the country. These efforts could be supported by an international conference which could take place in Kabul, the joint declaration reads. The EU's new action plan for Afghanistan and Pakistan was warmly welcomed. The USA and the EU also reiterated their support for the "European and Euro-Atlantic integration" of the countries of the Western Balkans. Bosnia-Herzegovina was specially mentioned in the joint declaration. Both sides remained committed to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country and called on the leaders of the ethnic communities to agree on a programme of reforms in order to observe the criteria for future accession to the EU and NATO. Americans and Europeans alike continue to believe in a "stable, democratic, integrated and multi-ethnic" Kosovo. (H.B./transl.fl)