Strasbourg, 17/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - By adopting a resolution on the state of the transatlantic dialogue (tabled by the EPP-ED, Socialist, Liberal and Union for a European of Nations groups), the European Parliament hoped that, at the EU/United States Summit to be held in Gothenburg on the eve of the European Council, a "common agenda" would be adopted guaranteeing more effective management of relations by 2004, date that coincides with the end of the term of office of the American President and the President of the European Commission (for the debate, see yesterday's EUROPE, p.13). Considering the Commission's communication aimed at providing a new impetus to this dialogue to be appropriate, Parliament nevertheless considers that the proposals made (like the reduction in the number of summits and the setting of a certain number of priority issues) do not respond to the demands of a transatlantic partnership in full flight. On the contrary, the EP recommends maintaining or possibly increasing the number of EU/United States summits, whereas the number of issues to be regarded as priorities over a given year should be strictly limited. As for the parliamentary dimension of the dialogue, the EP calls for its members and those of Congress to be filly involved in all future EU/United States summits, and that the possibility be examined of "de facto" transforming the current inter-parliamentary exchanges into a "Transatlantic Assembly".
In its resolution, the EP also raises issues that divide Europe and the United States, which are: - the death penalty, considering that, in the context of the transatlantic dialogue, the United States, which applies the death penalty, should be urged to abolish it; - missile defence, hoping that the United States would consult "all countries" before setting up such a system, and asking it not to unilaterally pull out of the ABM Treaty (regarding Esdp, Parliament considers that it has to contribute in "bolstering NATO capabilities and Europe's defence"); - the Kyoto Protocol, hoping that the United States "will abandon its isolationist stance regarding the global challenge that climate change represents".
As for the Echelon affair, the resolution condemns the American Administration which rejected an EP delegation headed by Mr. Coehlo, considering that this gives the impression of a lack of willingness to dialogue and a lack of trust, whereas it welcomes the readiness demonstrated by the American Congress to receive the MEPs.