Brussels, 24/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a speech made on Wednesday 24 September at the University of Harvard in the US, the president of the European Commission read out a letter addressed to the next president of the USA.
José Manuel Barroso affirmed that, “I have even heard some say that Europe is a growing regional player. In fact, they are wrong. I have to explain to you in this letter that the EU is a global player”. He pointed out that the EU constituted a single and dynamic market of half a billion people, using the Euro, the second most important currency in the world; a significant number of big multinationals from Europe and 70% of Americans working for foreign companies work for European companies; the EU shares the same values as the US (democracy and human rights); the EU is an increasingly important player for peace and international security, with more than 100,000 observers, police and soldiers on the ground; the EU is the largest development aid donor, delivering over 60% of international assistance. The European Commission president added that, “in these times of uncertainty, the EU needs the US and - yes - the US needs the EU more than ever. He then mentioned some of the dangers of globalisation, the developing financial crisis, which calls for the imposition of clearer and more efficient rules - pandemics, terrorism and climate change, “these challenges have no respect for national frontiers. The US and Europe have no choice but to face them together.
Barroso explained that he does not agree with those who believe that a multipolar world will solve all the problems we face today and that he has more confidence in partners and the multilateral approach. He called on the future US president to support the Trans-Atlantic Economic Council launched last year by George Bush, Angela Merkel and himself and to help strengthen the trans-Atlantic economy. In a multilateral context, he appealed for reform of the international institutions.
Barroso affirmed that, “security in the transatlantic context is first and foremost an issue for NATO. As we prepare for the 60th anniversary celebrations in Strasbourg next year, we should remind ourselves of the decades of peace the Alliance has assured us”. He added, “In a complementary manner to NATO, the EU is also, increasingly and with recognised effectiveness, acting to bring peace and security through a range of crisis management tools “. The president of the Commission concluded, “We have the transatlantic market place, NATO, the Transatlantic Economic Council and other instruments that we should continue to leverage for maximum mutual benefit. But I think we should move beyond this and set an agenda of common action for a ne multilateralism that can benefit the whole world. From climate change to trade, from development to terrorism, these are the challenges that require Europeans and Americans to agree on a new multilateral agenda” (O.J./trans/rh)