Brussels, 17/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - The Parliament wants greater cooperation between the EU and the United States, whether this be in terms of growth and employment, energy efficiency and resources, protection of personal data, climate change or international relations. This was the theme set out in a joint resolution on the EU-USA summit of 28 November 2011, adopted on Thursday 17 November by a very large majority (532 votes for, 14 against and 19 abstentions).
The day before, during plenary debate, Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, who was speaking on behalf of the EU high representative for foreign affairs, stressed that the summit must establish the importance of modern EU-US relations in an increasingly multipolar world. He spoke of the interdependency of American and European economies and explained that more cooperation was needed if the crisis was to be addressed. Elmar Brok (EPP, Germany) took the view that “if all customs barriers were lifted with the United States, then trade could be increased 3%”. “We must put the economy in order, strengthen cooperation in innovation, energy savings and rare earths. There is a whole range of possibilities for joint action”, said Hannes Swoboda (S&D, Austria).
In its resolution, the Parliament underlines the need to strengthen the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), and especially the development of common norms for new areas requiring regulation, such as nanotechnology, or emerging economic sectors. The TEC should “demonstrate our ability to work together”, said De Gucht.
MEPs call on the EU and the US to continue to step up cooperation in order to promote peace, especially in the Middle East. Charles Tannock (ECR, UK) took the view that it was important to coordinate foreign policy, on the issue of Iranian and Korean nuclear programmes, the Quartet, energy supply security, and issues raised by the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, China).
Given all these requests, Reinhard Bütikofer (Greens/EFA, Germany) expressed concern about the Americans' ability to act. “The US administration is paralysed and the Congress is divided”, he explained. (CG/transl.jl)