Brussels, 21/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU/United States Summit to take place on Saturday 26 June at Dromoland Castle, Ireland, "will be short, but rich in substantial results, because it will lead to the adoption of no fewer than seven joint declarations on important subjects", said a European Commission source on Monday. The American delegation will be headed by President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, national security advisor Condoleezza Rice, Trade Secretary Donald Evans, and- possibly- trade representative Robert Zoellick. The EU will be represented by Bertie Ahern, Brian Cowen, Javier Solana, Romano Prodi, plus Commissioners Patten, Lamy, de Palacio and Figel. The Commission President, Mr Prodi, said on Monday that he had high hopes of this meeting, to "breathe new life into" relations with Washington. "I am certain that this Summit will allow us to reinforce our partnership with the US. This is a vital partnership, not only for the trans-Atlantic community, but for the whole world. A reunified Europe will help to revitalise EU/US relations", he commented.
This Summit, the first since the enlargement of the European Union, comes at a very important time: on the eve of the transfer of power to an Iraqi government, and a few months ahead of the American presidential elections, and the appointment of a new Commission. "Beyond that, we want to show that past differences [the war in Iraq] are behind us, and that we are ready to concentrate on common challenges", said Commission sources. The Commission also welcomed the fact that today, transatlantic relations have reached "a level of maturity", which is also shown in the fact that bilateral relations are not longer dominated by trade issues alone, and that Europe is no seen as a political power and partner.
With the technical work on the various declarations (see below) now in their final phase, Saturday's Summit will be divided into two parts. A broad political discussion (on Iraq, the Wider Middle East and North Africa, and the fight against terrorism), followed by a lunch on economic questions: economic and structural reforms, growth and job creation, innovation, negotiations at the WTO. This debate will be extended for quarter of an hour, to two representatives of "Transatlantic Business Dialogue" (TABD), the heads of Coca-Cola and Unilever. Representatives of "Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue" (TACD) will also attend.
One of the Summit's most tangible results will be the signing of an agreement on co-existence and complete interoperability between the European and American satellite navigation systems, Galileo and GPS. This agreement is "crucial" for Galileo to be operational in 2008, stressed a Commission source. However, negotiations on the conclusion of an aviation agreement, "Open Skies", cannot be completed by Saturday, but the Commission hopes that the Summit will be able to give "new impetus" to the negotiators, to reach agreement as soon as possible (see EUROPE of 12 June, p.8, on the rejection of American proposals by the EU "Transport" Council).
The seven joint declarations will which be approved at the end of the Summit will concern: 1) Iraq. A few days ahead of the transfer of power to the interim Iraqi government, the declaration will underline the need to respect the timetable planning elections in 2005, the importance of international co-operation for Iraqi's political and economic reconstruction, and the role of the United Nations in this process. The Iraqi debt will also be raised; 2) the Wider Middle East. This declaration will reaffirm the support of both parties for peace, progress and reforms in the Middle East and the Mediterranean ("Wider Middle East"), and their willingness to co-operate to this end in a great many fields. However, there is no question of common projects or new common initiatives, "because each has their own policy. But there will be co-operation", said a Commission source; 3) Sudan, especially the situation in Darfur, where both sides affirm their wishes to avert a new humanitarian disaster; 4) the fight against terrorism; 5) non-proliferation; 6) co-operation to step up the fight against HIV/Aids; 7) reinforcing the EU/United States economic partnership. On this final point, both sides fully intend to identify and closely analyse the many non-tariff barriers to trade and investment, which continue to exist on either side of the Atlantic. It is anticipated that political recommendations with a view to the abolition of these obstacles could be drawn up for the next EU/US Summit.