Strasbourg, 17/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament adopted by 373 votes to 74 and 65 abstentions the report by British Conservative James Elles on the Commission's communication entitled: Reinforcing the Transatlantic Relationship: Focusing on Strategy and Delivering Results" (See EUROPE of 16 May, p.16, for the debate). While regretting the American tendency towards unilateralism and sometimes disengagement, the Parliament calls for a strengthened transatlantic relationship on an equal footing, in areas where there are common values and interests. It takes a stance for account to be taken of the positive agenda approved at the EU/United States Summit on 2 May in Washington.
The EP reaffirms NATO's fundamental role as a guarantor of Euro-Atlantic stability and security, and notes the latest developments in the field of ESDP, including concerning the European rapid reaction force. It considers that an improvement in the military capabilities calls for adequate defence budgets and may, a priori, be carried out through rationalisation of the defence effort, synergies between national and multinational projects, as well as continued elimination of the obsolete structures and forces inherited from the Cold War. With 208 votes for, 305 against and 13 abstentions, the Parliament rejected a passage in the report which takes a stance in favour of the creation of a European defence budget and a Defence Ministers Council. In parallel to the effort which must be made to strengthen the European pillar, the Parliament considers that the United States should guarantee technological cooperation and the opening of its defence supplies market.
While calling on the EU and the United States to finalise a renovated strategy and coordinate their economic and trade policies, the Parliament condemns the recent decision by the American authorities to approve a massive increase in farm subsidies despite multilateral trade commitments. It also condemns the American decision not to ratify the treaty establishing the International Criminal Tribunal (see EUROPE of 16 May, p.5).
The best way to react to American unilateralism is to truly unify our foreign and security policy, said Spanish Raimon Obiols, speaking for the Socialists. On behalf of the Liberals, however, Graham Watson unequivocally declared: "We must tell the Americans what we cannot accept from them, but we must not say that all the problems come from their errors of judgement (in his view, Romano Prodi and José Maria Aznar seemed "distinctly uncomfortable, side by side". Europe, also, must respect its multilateral commitments, said Joost Lagendijk speaking for the Greens. He condemned "à la carte multilateralism". Italian Radical Emma Bonino criticised those who seek to give themselves a European identity based on anti-Americanism: it is an irresponsible attitude, she said, while inviting the United States to give closer reflection to their political responsibilities (in her view, they run the risk of "losing peace" in Afghanistan if they concentrate troops in Kabul, forgetting the country as a whole).