Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2003-06-04-Speech-3-178"
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"en.20030604.5.3-178"2
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".
Madam President, Commissioner, ladies and gentlemen, the Council shares the honourable Member’s deep concern about the state of relations between the Union and the United States. Although these relations basically remain strong, it is clear that their
needs to be re-examined by both sides. The Union has made it absolutely clear that it is dealing with relations with the United States as the main priority for its foreign policy. Working together, we can help create a better world for everyone. The issue for the Union is how this objective will be adopted on the basis of the already very broad cooperation taking place in the western Balkans, Afghanistan, the Middle East and in connection with North Korea.
Focusing attention on issues on which the Union and the United States differ very often conceals this cooperation, which is appreciated by both sides. As the honourable Member of Parliament knows, the High Representative will submit a document to the European Council in Thessaloniki containing recommendations for a global Union strategy in the field of foreign policy and security. A preliminary discussion of the subject could be held in the General Affairs and External Relations Council in June. It is obvious that, although this will be a general strategy, it will also contribute to the development of EU-USA relations. It is also presumed that it will be based on the existing Union policy in relation, inter alia, to the role of the United Nations. The time is right, given that this will take place just before the EU-USA summit in Washington on 25 June.
Just as the development of the foreign and security policy is allowing the Union to deal more efficiently with recent events, including its cooperation with the United States in the Middle East, Afghanistan or the western Balkans, in the field of the European security and defence policy, improving European military capabilities continues to be a high priority for the Union, so that the Union can become a more efficient partner of the United States.
The Council continues to take the view that a multilateral approach is still always the best way to resolve the various problems that we face today in various parts of the world. The Council has not expressed an opinion on the question of adding the principle of reinforced cooperation in the field of the ESDP to the new Treaty. When we completed the New Transatlantic Agenda, we stated that we were committed to the objective of constructing a new European architecture in the field of security in which ΝΑΤΟ, the Union, the OSCE and the Council of Europe would play complementary and mutually reinforcing roles.
This was our position in 1995 and it remains our position today. The New Transatlantic Agenda provides the most extensive framework for cooperation with the United States. The action plan may perhaps now be outdated, but that does not apply to the New Transatlantic Agenda. The dialogue we have with the United States is already intensive, with countless continual contacts at all levels. What we need is not more meetings but perhaps to focus our attention more. We hope that the development of an overall Union strategy will renew the dialogue with the United States and increase its usefulness to the situations developing around the world.
Cooperation is still an absolute necessity in order to combat the scourge of terrorism. Following 11 September 2001, our cooperation has extended beyond all expectations on both sides. Over and above what is being said about differences, there is very often ignorance on both sides of the Atlantic about the essential and specific work being carried out jointly in order to combat terrorism. The United States need Europe, just as we need the United States if we want to be successful in combating the challenges of this century.
The Council is fully aware of the fact that, if we are to succeed, we need to deal not only with the symptoms but also with the causes. And this presupposes mobilising resources in many and varied sectors, in the economic, social and development as well as the political sector.
Finally, the transatlantic legislative dialogue is an exceptionally important element in transatlantic relations. Whereas the Council's contacts are to a great extent with the government of the United States, Parliament can play a vital role by reinforcing its dialogue with the members of Congress, in the aim of promoting an understanding of the concerns and priorities of the peoples of the European Union. The Council is not authorised to dictate to civil society the role which it can play in this dialogue. However, it has encouraged the development of the four specialist dialogues and maintains the view that, together with the numerous networks of universities, institutes, laboratories, ideas and so on, they can make an important contribution.
No more cooperation frameworks are needed. What is needed in the dialogue with the United States is for each side to be carefully informed of the other side's opinions and mutual action."@en1
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