P6_TA(2005)0007

Transatlantic relations

European Parliament resolution on transatlantic relations

The European Parliament,

- having regard to the Transatlantic Declaration on EU-US relations of 1990 and the New Transatlantic Agenda of 1995,

- having regard to its resolution of 22 April 2004 on the state of the Transatlantic Partnership on the eve of the EU-US Summit in Dublin on 25/ 26 June 2004 [1],

- having regard to the results of the EU-US Summit held on 25/ 26 June 2004 in Dublin,

- having regard to Rule 103(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas relations between the civil societies of Europe and of the United States are based on strong roots and common values, such as democracy, human rights and the rule of law, sustainable economies and sustainable development,

B. whereas stressing that the fight against terrorism can be successful only if the action is carried out through a strengthened transatlantic partnership which coherently upholds the founding values upon which it has been built,

C. whereas the new situation in the Middle East provides a window of opportunity for a common initiative in the region aimed at reaching a final and comprehensive settlement,

D. whereas the long-lasting situation in Guantanamo Bay is creating tensions in transatlantic relations, since the EU cannot accept these legal and judicial irregularities, which undermine the most fundamental values of the rule of law,

E. whereas the EU-US Summit in Dublin led to some moderate progress to give impetus to the strengthening of economic partnership, for example by means of steps to promote progress in the area of financial markets and negotiations for a Transatlantic Aviation Agreement; and whereas the summit, in joint statements, addressed the situation in the broader Middle East as well as aspects of the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,

F. whereas the New Transatlantic Agenda of December 1995 needs to be revised urgently to take account of current realities,

1. Hopes that the second term-in-office of President Bush and the new administration will lead to a fresh start in EU-US transatlantic relations; declares the willingness of the European Union, and specifically the European Parliament, to cooperate and work together to solve global problems which require global efforts and a common approach; in this respect, welcomes the visit by President Bush to the European institutions in February 2005;

2. Welcomes the progress achieved at the last EU-US summit on 26 June 2004 in Ireland in strengthening the Transatlantic Partnership; considers the readiness to take joint actions in a wide range of fields as a good indicator for the future of the partnership, reflecting the realisation that working together is better than going in different directions;

3. Is aware that in several policy areas, such as those relating to the International Criminal Court and the Kyoto Climate Change Protocol, differences in analysis, diagnosis and policy approach exist between the EU and the US; is concerned about the potentially dangerous impact of the growing US federal budget deficit on the global economy and the balance of international currency markets; calls for a further debate on these policy areas where positions between the EU and the US remain strongly divided and hopes that the new administration will make a real effort to build on the partnership between the EU and the US;

4. Calls on the US to assume its shared responsibility for economic stability in an increasingly interdependent world;

5. Proposes the building of a transatlantic "community of action" for regional and global cooperation and challenges, focusing in particular on the following three joint actions:

(a) the development of a peace initiative in the Middle East in agreement with the governments and peoples of the region, with the aim of contributing to a solution to the existing conflicts, including encouraging democracy in Palestine, Iran and Iraq;

(b) the search for global security, which should be tackled with the following priorities in mind:

- the fight against international terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as the revival of negotiated arms control and disarmament at multilateral level, within the UN system, and at bilateral level;

- the need to address the sources of terrorism through, for example, coordination in the area of development assistance and support for emerging democratic processes on the basis of full respect for human rights and international law; calls on both partners to actively engage in a reform of the UN, and in particular its Security Council, including its composition, in order to make it more effective and accountable and increase its capacity to implement its decisions;

- the need for an effective response — on the shared basis of the Millennium Development Goals — to new global challenges which cut across national boundaries, notably poverty reduction, communicable diseases and degradation of the environment, in particular by promoting dialogues on climate protection and transport emissions; believes, in this regard, that the tsunami disaster provides the opportunity for joint, concerted assistance and relief action for the countries affected in support of the UN, action which must be followed by a long-term programme of rehabilitation and reconstruction aimed at the sustainable development of the region;

(c) a new impetus for the strengthening of the economic partnership, by focusing on specific ideas to further transatlantic economic integration to the fullest, working towards a comprehensive Transatlantic Aviation Agreement and accelerating the Financial Market Regulatory Dialogue to promote a vibrant and open transatlantic capital market;

6. Considers that the above-mentioned initiatives should lead, by December 2005, to agreement between the transatlantic partners to update the 1995 New Transatlantic Agenda, replacing it with a "Transatlantic Partnership Agreement", to be implemented from 2007;

7. Considers that the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue should be fully activated, that an early warning system should immediately be put in place between the two sides, and that the existing interparliamentary exchange should be gradually transformed into a de facto "Transatlantic Assembly";

8. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the parliaments of the Member States and the President and Congress of the United States of America.

[1] Texts Adopted, P5_TA(2004)0375.

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