Strasbourg, 06/06/2003 (Agence Europe) - . Emma Nicholson (British Liberal) stressed, during a debate filled with rhetoric, on trans-Atlantic relations on Wednesday, that the majority of political groups at the European Parliament had underlined that the EU had to be able to enforce its common external and security policy, in order to become a credible partner on an equal footing with the USA before any definitions of strategy on trans-Atlantic relations could be made. Without political will demonstrated by Member States, CFSP would not have the scope it required, she said before adding that a stronger Europe was crucial for NATO's survival, as well as the UN's, which had suffered serious consequences with the war in Iraq. Tassos Giannitsis, speaking for the Council, supported a global and pluralist approach for relaunching dialogue with the EU and USA, that took account of the political, economic and legislative dimensions. Improving military capability in the EU constituted a condition for relaunching this partnership and in order to achieve this end, Javier Solana, the High Representative for the EU's CFSP policy, would present the EU's "strategic concept" at the Summit of Thessaloniki, Mr Giannitsis pointed out. He also invited Parliament to take part in the trans-Atlantic dialogue to strengthen its cooperation with the US Congress (British Conservative, James Nicholson chairs the EP delegation to Congress: Editor's note). Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, wants some changes to trans-Atlantic relations while others seek a complete overhaul. Despite some divergences, the Commission believes that EU/US cooperation has been through a lot of trials in several areas (the fight against terrorism, the Balkans, reconstruction in Afghanistan) and should be continued.
Speaking for the EPP-ED, James Elles (UK) asserted that before defining a strategy on relations that the EU wants to have with the USA, it would be necessary to define a long term strategy for CFSP because this domain was where things counted. At the same time, Mr Elles defended the idea of strengthening economic relations with the US and setting up a genuine "trans-Atlantic market". Very critical of the attitude of the Bush Administration, Raymon Obiols (Spain, PES), thought that there had been a radical change of attitude of the USA with the new Conservative Administration", it had replaced dissuasion with "preventive attacks" and multilateralism with "case by case alliances" or subordination to the USA, which had become the rule, he protested. Bob Van den Bos (Netherlands), speaking on behalf of the Liberals, aid that the EU could not be a real partner of the USA unless it was united. "There is no place for nationalist excesses", he warned. Pedro Marset Campos (GUE/NGL, Spain) explained that they had to avoid the new threat represented by the Bush Administration. The German MEP elected in France, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Co-President of the Greens/EFA attacked the "idealism" of Parliament. He believed that the real question was, "Do we have essentially the same interests as the USA?" According to him that is why, "We must first define our interests and our doctrine before discussion with the USA". French Socialist, Harlem Désir, said that the Bush government had, "used the trauma of 11 September to impose its agenda" which existed before the attacks. He explained that "either we submit to the US and we accompany them in this farce or we decide that the EU can make choices and strengthen our external and security policy". British Conservative, Geoffrey Van Orden thought that the disputes between the US and France and Germany did not represent the general EU position. He insisted that "We must strengthen our tans-Atlantic relationship". He did not understand those who wanted a debate on EU external and security policy without the US.