Brussels, 28/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EU-United States Summit at Dromoland Castle on 26 June was especially productive (see the seven statements adopted), and served to reconfirm the solidity, intensity and importance of transatlantic relations in a spirit of partnership, noted Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern, who on behalf of the EU co-chaired the meeting, with US President George W.Bush. Despite disagreements on political and economic issues, the transatlantic partnership is a vital relationship based on common values and unshakeable commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law, added Bertie Ahern. He told reporters that these common values had made them solid partners in a vital alliance for stability and prosperity in Europe and in America for more than fifty years. The Summit hugely increased the already solid alliance, commented Mr Ahern. President Bush also commented on the common values, saying that Europe and America were linked by family ties, friendship and struggle and common values, along with common responsibilities. Bush made a connection between the liberation of EUROPE 60 years ago and the struggle against terrorism today (terrorism was covered in a special statement, see below). Bush said that because we took our responsibilities series during the past century, we have been able to achieve the vision of a European continent which is free and at peace. Taking our responsibilities seriously in the next century, he went on, we will fight the forces of terror and help build a freer, safer and more prosperous world.
The American President then got down to tangible matters, saying to reporters that Turkey should become a member of the EU. Turkey has met the conditions posed by the EU for accession, said Bush, and the EU must now launch the negotiations that will lead to full and complete accession. This sentence started with the word 'as' (although this could not be heard during the press conference). A US spokesperson commented that the word 'as' can mean both 'when' and 'since', and said that Mr Bush had used the word to mean 'when'. Hence George Bush simply hoped the EU would launch accession negotiations with Turkey 'when' Ankara met the conditions set by the EU, emphasised the spokesperson.
Another key point of the Summit was the signing of the interoperability agreement for the US satellite GPS system and Galileo (the EU system). The agreement was signed by US Secretary of State Colin Powell, Transport Commissioner Loyola de Palacio and Irish foreign minister Brian Cowen. Colin Powell said the agreement would strengthen the common benefits of the new technology. Loyola de Palacio said that the EU and the US had confirmed their commitment to developing technology that would bring significant benefits for the common future. She added that the signing of the agreement was good news. The agreement will enable Galileo to become a world standard for the civilian and commercial use of satellite navigation and will also provide the best level of service to all users, commented de Palacio (see EUROPE of 24 June, p.7).
The Summit's brief working meeting was dominated by the seven issues for which statements were issued (all published on the Irish Presidency's website: http://www.eu2004.ie ), namely:
Economic partnership between the EU and the US. Speaking to reporters, Bertie Ahern said that economic relations between the EU and the United States were the pivotal axis of debate at the Summit, and that the economic relations between the two underlay 12 million jobs on either side of the Atlantic. In the common statement, both sides committed themselves to take action to ensure a positive outcome of WTO negotiations and launch an in-depth programme to maximise investment and remove obstacles to transatlantic trade. This research would be finished before the next EU-US Summit (in 2005), explained Mr Ahern. Removing obstacles to transatlantic trade would increase the prosperity of all nations, said President Bush. The common statement confirms the commitment of both parties to supporting a multilateral trading system, governed by rules. Both sides state they are determined to make progress in multilateral negotiations to liberalise trade and strengthen rules, as foreseen in the WTO negotiations over the Doha trade cycle. Both Europeans and Americans said they were encouraged by the fact that the negotiations had been given a new lease of life in recent weeks. They said they would continue to cooperate to conclude the Doha negotiations as soon as possible, based on an ambitious, balanced outcome and taking account of the interests of developing countries, ensuring the poorest countries in the world were not abandoned. The Summit also encouraged negotiators on both sides to continue discussions to reach agreement on the Open Skies agreement in aviation (see EUROPE on 24 June, page 7).
Iraq. The EU and the United States share a common commitment to help the Iraqi people and the transition government in their efforts to build a free, safe, democratic, united and prosperous country, at peace with itself, its neighbours and the whole world, comments the joint statement. Iraq needs strong support from the international community to be able to meet its potential and realise its merits, notes the statement. The interim Iraqi government can count on the 'full and sustained' support of the EU and the United States to guide the country towards elections, which should take place by 31 January 2005 at the latest, notes the statement. The EU and the US also support the continued and increased commitment of the United Nations in Iraq after the transfer of sovereignty, and highlight the need to fully respect the Geneva Conventions. The EU will enter dialogue with the interim government and Iraqi society and is prepared to give priority to supporting the political process and preparing for elections. The EU is also prepared to consider additional aid to help develop the rule of law, establish a civilian administration in Iraq, use its contact with neighbouring countries to urge regional support for political and economic reconstruction of the country and the EU also wants to play a 'positive role' in discussions over Iraq's foreign debt. On the debt issue, the United States and the EU confirmed plans to promote a reduction in Iraq's foreign debt because, explains the common statement, reducing the foreign debit is important if the Iraqi people are to succeed in their challenge of building a free and prosperous nation. Work on reducing the debt could start in 2004 at the Paris Club, in parallel with the establishment of an International Monetary Fund programme. If the interim government decided to convene an international donors' conference, the EU and the United States would welcome this, notes the statement. At a bilateral meeting between Bertie Ahern and President Bush on the fringes of the Summit, Bertie Ahern raised the issue of the treatment of Iraqi prisoners of war and prisoners held at the US airbase of Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. In a press release, Bertie Ahern said that President Bush was perfectly aware of the Irish and Europeans' disapproval of the ill treatment inflicted on Iraqi prisoners by coalition forces. Ahern said he had also raised the question of how the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay were being treated, noting that on this issue the EU's views were well known to the US government.
Middle-East. The EU and the United States have provided their support to the development and democratisation of the Middle East, comments the statement, noting that this could not be imposed from the outside. In the common statement, both sides say they are prepared to support the efforts of the governments of the region to 'modernise' their countries, make progress in political, economic and social reforms, build democracy and promote human rights. If these reforms are to be successful and sustainable, explains the declaration, they have to come from the countries themselves and cannot be imposed from the outside. The statement goes on to add that the communities in the countries of the Middle East have rich traditions and cultures, each country being unique. Their diversity must be respected and the commitment of the EU and the US has to meet local conditions. Each society will reach its own conclusions in terms of the speed an the scope of change, adds the declaration, noting that the difference in situation of the countries concerned cannot be exploited to prevent reform, no matter how great the gap. The EU and the United States will not launch common initiatives or programmes in the Middle East, but each side will make use of its own tools to help build peace and stability in the region. Washington views its "Middle East Partnership Initiative" as its key tool, and the EU will continue its cooperation mainly through the EuroMed Partnership (the Barcelona Process), relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council, the EU's good neighbours policy and other forms of bilateral relations.
Terrorism. The common statement notes that both sides are determined to cooperate together to combat terrorism while sharing the commitment to respect human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, which form the basis on which European and US societies are built and which terrorism aims to destroy, comments the statement. Following on from this, the EU and the United States have established a long list of objectives which they wants to achieve through dialogue and measures taken at all levels. These include boosting international consensus on terrorism (with an important role for the UN), preventing terrorists getting access to sources of finance, perfecting systems and methods for detecting and investigating terrorist activity (with the aim of averting potential terrorist attacks), stepping up security measures for international transport and border controls, working on the causes of terrorism and attempting to deal with the issues abused by terrorists to justify their cause, or from which they benefit in terms of attracting new recruits, etc.
Non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) means that it has to be dealt with on both an individual and a collective basis, cooperating with partners, including through international institutions, particularly United Nations' bodies, explains the common statement. The EU and the US welcomed the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 and urge all states to fully respect the resolution. The role of the IAEA in controlling nuclear activity and combating the proliferation of the WMD must be stepped up. North Korea's announced withdrawal from the non-proliferation treaty is of serious concern to us, note both sides. When it comes to Iran, the EU and the United States urge Teheran to retreat over its decision to start trading in the highly sensitive product of enriched uranium. The joint statement notes that both sides are disturbed by the recent announcement of Iran's plans to start building centrifugal elements again (used to enrich uranium) and urge Iran to reverse the decision. Iran must suspend all activity connected with the enrichment of uranium, continues the common statement, adding that Iran must also fully met its obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.
Sudan. Europe and the United States expressed 'deep concern' at the humanitarian situation in Darfur, where the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians is in the gravest danger. The Sudanese government must immediately end the violence perpetrated by Jingaweit militias, ensure the safety of civilians and humanitarian workers, demilitarise the militia and guarantee humanitarian organisations free access to Darfur, explains the statement.
HIV/AIDS. The two sides announced plans to cooperate more closely to combat the scourge of HIV/AIDS.