Ross is, 25/02/2009 (Agence Europe) - The EU should negotiate a "transatlantic partnership agreement" with the United States and give its relations with Washington a new institutional architecture, according to the committee on foreign affairs of the EP. In the report by Spain's Francisco José Millán Mon (EPP-ED), which was adopted on 24 February, the MEPs state that talks on the new agreement, to replace the New Transatlantic Agenda of 1995, should start as soon as the Lisbon Treaty enters into force and end by 2012. The report also calls for the creation of a "Transatlantic Policy Council" (TPC). This would serve as a high-level consultation and cooperation body for foreign and security policy. The TPC, which would be co-chaired by the high representative of the EU for the CFSP (and future vice-president of the Commission) and the American secretary of state, would meet at least once every three months. The MEPs also suggest that EU/United States summits be held twice a year. The report proposes the creation of a joint parliamentary committee. Furthermore, the existing Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) could help to overcome current obstacles to economic integration and create a unified transatlantic market by 2015, the MEPs continue. The Commission is called upon to draft a detailed roadmap of the current obstacles to overcome with a view to observing this cut-off date. The plenary session vote on the report is scheduled for the end of March. (H.B./transl.fl)