Brussels, 26/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - Working from the position that Washington is the “EU's most important strategic partner”, the European Parliament is calling for relations with the United States to be improved with the conclusion of a Transatlantic Partnership Agreement, to replace the current New Transatlantic Agenda which dates from 1995, and more frequent meetings at all levels. Negotiations on the new agreement are expected to start as soon as the Lisbon Treaty comes into force so that they can be completed before 2012, according to the report by Francisco José Millán Mon that was adopted by the Parliament in Strasbourg on Thursday 26 March. The Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), which is already in place and has responsibility for economic integration and regulatory cooperation between the EU and the US, is likely to form part of the new agreement, with the aim being the creation of a unified transatlantic market by 2015 (the Commission is requested to draw up a detailed roadmap of the current obstacles to be overcome if this deadline is to be met). The new transatlantic partnership will also create a body for systemic high-level consultation and coordination for foreign and security policy. This body, which the EP proposes to call the Transatlantic Political Council, will be chaired, on the European side, by the future high representative/Commission vice-president and, on the American side, by the secretary of state. It will meet at least every three months. MEPs also want EU-US summits to be held twice yearly to provide “strategic direction and impetus”. Cooperation between parliamentarians from both sides will also be enhanced. That is why the EP wants to “upgrade” the current Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue and make it a Transatlantic Assembly which meets twice per year. MEPs also suggest that a US Congress liaison office should be opened in Brussels and an EP liaison officer should be deployed in Washington. Civil society should also be involved in strengthening transatlantic links, through student exchanges. The growing presence of American think tanks in Brussels was welcomed, but European organisations were urged to go out and do the same thing in Washington to raise the profile of the EU in the US political community, more aware of the EU.
In general terms, the new transatlantic partnership should be based on “effective multilateralism”, shared responsibility for world order and respect for international law, says the EP, setting out a long list of specific expectations affecting areas such as climate change (Europeans and Americans are called on to take the lead and to reach an ambitious agreement for the period after 2012 at the conference in Copenhagen in December) and energy security (there has to be a coordinated approach towards producer countries. On foreign policy, MEPs highlight the crucial role to be played by the US and the EU in achieving peace in the Middle East and stability and development in Afghanistan. The two partners are also called on to work to find a negotiated solution to the issue of Iran's nuclear programme, and to closely coordinate their policies with regard to Russia. The EP also wants the EU and the US to set up a joint strategy on the six Eastern European countries which will be involved in the EU's Eastern Partnership (Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus). NATO is the “cornerstone of transatlantic security”, but the EU must continue to strengthen its civilian and military capabilities under the ESDP, MEPs say. The EP calls on Washington to lift the requirement for visas for nationals of the five member states which are still not included in the Visa Waiver Scheme, and to treat all EU citizens equally. (H.B./transl.rt)