Brussels, 05/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament believes that ties between the EU and the United States should be closer and hopes that the incoming US president - Republican John McCain or Democrat Barack Obama - will work to resolve the deep differences that currently exist with the EU, particularly on climate change, visas, the death penalty and the International Criminal Court. That is what comes out of a joint resolution on the EU-United States summit to be held in Ljubljana on 10 June (see below) which the EP adopted in Brussels on Thursday 5 June. The time has come to strengthen relations with Washington through a new transatlantic partnership agreement which would replace the New Transatlantic Agenda that has been in place since 1995, the resolution says.
On climate change, Europe and the United States must finally agree on a joint approach on how to achieve a maximum 2°C rise in temperatures compared with pre-industrialisation level, say MEPs, welcoming the commitments of the main presidential candidates on greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and on reaching an international agreement by 2009. The EP also calls on the United States to put in place a carbon dioxide emissions trading scheme that could, in the future, be linked to the Community emissions trading scheme (EU ETS). The appearance of regional greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes in the United States is, in the opinion of MEPs, an encouraging sign. The American proposal for an international fund for non-polluting technology is one that the EP feels is interesting, and it calls on the Commission to open dialogue on the issue with the US government. With regard to visas, the EP calls on the United States to treat all EU nationals equally, “on the basis of total reciprocity”. As things stand, only 15 EU countries (all the “old” member states, with the exception of Greece, plus Slovenia) are part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which has just seen a further security measure introduced - an “electronic travel authorization system” (see EUROPE 9675). On-going talks on extending the VWP to the other member states must be “transparent”, based on the principle of reciprocity, and respectful of EU arrangements on the protection of personal data, MEPs say.
A large part of the declaration is devoted to foreign policy. The EP calls on the EU and the United States together to find “new ideas” to redefine a “stronger partnership” between the EU and NATO since the Atlantic Alliance remains the indispensable platform for security consultations between the EU and the United States. The EU and the USA are called on to take urgent measures to increase, improve and better coordinate their development aid to Afghanistan. MEPs call on the Council to begin a “dialogue” with Washington on Iraq, and to support increased multilateralisation of the role played by the international community in Iraq. In Kosovo, the EU (through its EULEX mission) and the United States must urgently meet the short-term security challenges and Kosovo's long-term development issues to achieve a common objective: a properly functioning state, a multiethnic society with strong institutions which work, and respect for the rule of law. The EP says that the International Criminal Court is a key pillar of international law. MEPs, then, call for a “more constructive attitude” from the next US government on American ratification of the status of the Court and the conclusion of an agreement on the definition of “crime of aggression”. The EP highlights the importance of respecting human rights (including the right to have personal data protected) in combating terrorism. It also condemns the death penalty and calls on the US government and US states to abolish it.
Main topics on agenda of EU-United States summit (10 June)
On Wednesday evening, Dimitrej Rupel, President-in-Office of the Council, revealed to MEPs the main points on the agenda of the summit with George W. Bush (his “farewell summit”) to be held in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana on 10 June. The summit will take stock of what has been done in the Transatlantic Economic Council that was set in 2007. Leaders will also discuss WTO negotiations on the Doha Round, climate change and the issue of visas. Rupel also hopes that “substantial progress” can be made before the end of the year on visa reciprocity, energy security, development and various health and safety issues. The summit will also discuss the Middle East, the Western Balkans (Kosovo in particular), Central Asia, the Caucasus and Iran's nuclear programme. (H.B.)