European Parliament resolution on the state of the Transatlantic Partnership on the eve of the EU-US Summit in Dublin on 25/26 June 2004
Date: 2004-04-22
Institutions: European Parliament
Subjects: EU relations, United States, common foreign and security policy, international security, multilateral relations, political cooperation, summit meeting, trade cooperation

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P5_TA(2004)0375

Transatlantic relations

European Parliament resolution on the state of the Transatlantic Partnership on the eve of the EU-
US Summit in Dublin on 25/26 June 2004

The European Parliament,

(cid:1) having regard to the draft Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe of 18 July 2003, prepared by

the European Convention,

(cid:1) having regard to the Transatlantic Declaration on EU-US relations of 1990 and the New Transatlantic

Agenda of 1995 (NTA),

(cid:1) having regard to the Conclusions and Plan of Action of the Extraordinary European Council meeting
held in Brussels on 21 September 2001 and the Declaration by the Heads of State and Government of
the European Union and the President of the Commission on the attacks of 11 September 2001 and
the fight against terrorism made at the informal European Council in Ghent on 19 October 2001,

(cid:1) having regard to the European Council Declaration on Transatlantic Relations annexed to the Presi-

dency Conclusions of the European Council meeting in Brussels on 12/13 December 2003,

(cid:1) having regard to UN Security Council Resolutions 1368 (2001), adopted by the Security Council at its
4370th meeting on 12 September 2001 (1), 1269 (1999), adopted by the Security Council at its
4053rd meeting on 19 October 1999 (2) and 1373 (2001), adopted by the Security Council at its
4385th meeting, on 28 September 2001 (3),

(cid:1) having regard to the Road Map to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
agreed by the Quartet of 20 December 2002, and to its resolution of 23 October 2003 on Peace and
Dignity in the Middle East (4),

(cid:1) having regard to its resolution of 25 September 2003 on the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the WTO

in Cancun (5),

(cid:1) having regard to its resolution of 10 April 2003 on the new European security and defence architec-

ture (cid:1) priorities and deficiencies (6),

(cid:1) having regard to its resolutions of 17 May 2001 on the state of the transatlantic dialogue (7); of
13 December 2001 on EU judicial cooperation with the United States in combating terrorism (8); of
15 May 2002 on Reinforcing the Transatlantic Relationship: Focusing on Strategy and Delivering
Results (9); of 19 June 2003 on a Renewed Transatlantic Relationship for the Third Millennium (10);
and to its Recommendation of 10 March 2004 on the Guantanamo detainees’ right to a fair trial (11),

(cid:1) having regard to Rule 37(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the forthcoming UE-US Summit is the first to take place following the significant enlargement
of the European Union with 10 new Member States, which should in parallel imply a marked rein-
forcement of the EU-US global partnership,

(1) http://www.un.org/Docs/scres/2001/res1368e.pdf
(2) http://www.un.org/Docs/scres/1999/99sc1269.htm
(3) http://www.un.org/Docs/scres/2001/res1373e.pdf
(4) P5_TA(2003)0462.
(5) P5_TA(2003)0412.
(6) OJ C 64 E, 12.3.2004, p. 599.
(7) OJ C 34 E, 7.2.2002, p. 359.
(8) OJ C 177 E, 25.7.2002, p. 288.
(9) OJ C 180 E, 31.7.2003, p. 392.
(10) P5_TA(2003)0291.
(11) P5_TA(2004)0168.

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B.

deploring the continued unilateralism of the United States at a time when the major challenges facing
the international community in such areas as environmental protection, development, the fight against
poverty and collective security call for closer international cooperation and respect for multinational
rules,

C. whereas multilateralism remains the best way to identify and meet threats and to achieve global peace
and security, and whereas there is therefore a common interest in enhancing the effectiveness of
multilateral institutions,

D. whereas the long-lasting situation in Guantanamo Bay is clearly damaging the reputation of the US
and is hindering EU-US transatlantic relations, since the European Union cannot accept these legal and
judicial irregularities, which undermine the most fundamental values of the rule of law,

E.

deeply concerned at the continued existence of the death penalty in many US states,

F.

having regard to the persistence of many trade disputes between the EU and the United States, which
concern the inalienable right to food security and a healthy environment,

Stresses the importance of a comprehensive dialogue,

1.
including political, economic, defence and
security cooperation, between two partners as a fundamental basis for the transatlantic relationship; con-
siders that, in spite of certain fundamental differences, there are still more factors uniting Europe and the
United States than there are dividing them;

2.
Underlines that a European Union adequately supported by an enhanced CFSP is a precondition for a
well-balanced partnership based on complementarity, which is attainable through a better balance in the
division of tasks in order to promote better regional and global burden sharing, with the ultimate aim of
enhancing overall security;

3.
Expresses the view that the economic foundations for a strengthened EU-US partnership are strong
but should be improved, that the defence and security foundations need to be developed, placing conflict
prevention at their core, that the political foundations in certain areas of vital common interest should be
strengthened, and that the institutional mechanism of the partnership should be reassessed;

Joint action on the most demanding political issues

Proposes to build a transatlantic ‘community of action’ for regional and global cooperation, address-

4.
ing the following priorities:

(a)

strengthening the United Nations by means of comprehensive reforms which make it possible for the
United Nations to act more swiftly and efficiently;

(b) preventing future military conflicts by addressing their roots and to find durable and equitable sol-

utions for existing crises;

(c) peace, security, democracy and development in the extended Middle East,

in agreement with the
governments and societies of the area, with the aim of contributing to a solution to the existing
conflicts;

(d)

(e)

the fight against terrorism, with full respect for human rights, international law and the prominent
role of the United Nations;

curbing the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction, in the
framework of the existing treaties and at multilateral, bilateral and regional level;

(f)

fighting AIDS and infectious diseases;

(g)

(h)

the long-term integration of China into the global community, with the encouragement of democratic
reform in that country;

the further transformation of Russia into a democratic state and a functioning market economy, which
will constitute the basis for a strategic partnership;

(i)

support for the future of the International Criminal Court;

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5.
Expresses its deep regret at the statement by President Bush on the occasion of the visit of the Israeli
Prime Minister to Washington on 14 April 2004 on the issue of the future border between Israel and a
viable Palestinian State; recalls that borders are part of the final status that must be negotiated on the basis
of UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the Oslo Agreement and the Roadmap endorsed by the
Quartet; remains convinced that no unilateral or one-sided initiative can replace a just and fair negotiation
between both sides;

Takes note of the remarks made by the President of the Council of the European Union and by the
6.
EU High Representative for the CFSP on the meeting between President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon;
endorses notably the EU position that recalls that any changes to the pre-1967 borders would not be
recognised other than through an agreement between the respective sides;

7.
Calls for an urgent meeting of the Quartet in order to reinstate the proposals of the Roadmap and
reiterates that it is vital to make coherent decisions to compel those still opposed to the Peace Process in
the Middle East to take decisive steps towards peace through the method described in the Roadmap, as
advocated by the European Union and in the resolutions of this Parliament; calls on the Quartet to support
peace initiatives on the part of civil society, e.g. the Geneva Accord;

Endorses the need to pursue the necessary reforms in the countries of the ‘wider Middle East’ jointly

8.
with progressive forces in those countries, and not to impose them from outside;

9.
Stresses the need for a broader approach to the situation in the entire Middle East region, notably
post-war Iraq, the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the tensions generated by religious, cultural,
it would be advisable to start a common process in
social and economic factors;
which the EU, NATO, the Arab League and all other countries of the region should participate;

in this framework,

Recommends to the Summit the creation of a long-term collaborative framework and the launching
10.
of a joint Action Plan for the Fight on Terrorism, pointing out that international terrorism must be com-
bated firmly, addressing the roots of the tremendous political, social, economic and ecological problems of
today’s world and enhancing the work of the judiciary, police and intelligence services, with military means
being used as a last resort;

Underlines that such an Action Plan should combine strong determination and action against ter-

11.
rorism with full respect for human rights and international humanitarian standards;

12.
Stresses that the need to increase efforts to fight the terrorist threat must not be pursued at the
expense of protecting fundamental rights, such as privacy, and that it is therefore necessary to start negoti-
ations on an effective transatlantic cooperation agreement for the prevention of crime and terrorism;

13.
Calls once again for the Guantánamo detainees to be brought to trial and treated in accordance
with international law; urges the Council to include this issue on the agenda for the forthcoming EU-US
Summit;

14.
Calls again upon the transatlantic partners actively to support and strengthen the international
institutions and to reaffirm the value of international law, avoiding unilateral approaches and reverting to
multilateralism and to the United Nations framework in order to develop global governance and to work
together to define a common agenda for reform, particularly of the United Nations and the Bretton Woods
institutions, in order to strengthen their effectiveness, credibility and democratic legitimacy;

Recommends intensifying practical cooperation on energy and climate change with regard, in par-
15.
ticular, to the Kyoto Protocol, building on the agreement on R & D cooperation for the hydrogen economy;

Renews its condemnation of the application of the death penalty; calls on the US Government and

16.
all US states to abolish the death penalty;

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Completing the Transatlantic Market by 2015

17.
Proposes the launching of a 10-year Action Plan aimed at deepening and broadening the transatlan-
tic market, as well as the transatlantic economy and monetary cooperation, with the goal of a barrier-free
transatlantic market by 2015; asks the forthcoming EU-US Summit to set up a body of experts to elaborate
specific proposals to this end;

Recommends, however, a 2010 accelerated target date for financial services and capital markets,
18.
aviation, the digital economy (privacy, security and intellectual property rights), competition policy and
regulatory cooperation;

Continues to view with alarm, however, the policy of the US Administration whereby countries
19.
must cooperate with the United States on its foreign policy and national security goals in order to become
eligible as trading partners, and whereby such trading partnerships are a privilege;

Recommends to both partners the revitalisation of the WTO Doha negotiation as a matter of
20.
urgency, while addressing at the same time the structural problems which undermine the ability of LDCs
and many developing countries to reap the benefits of trade, and launching a dialogue on growth and
development with all the other partners involved in the negotiations and seeking rapid, meaningful results
in a joint action to fight poverty and promote economic development at multilateral level;

21.
Recommends to both parties that they study possible ways of implementing the measures proposed
in the recent report by the Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalisation, in order to mitigate
some of the worst effects of globalisation;

Considers that both partners should jointly initiate proposals for the modernisation and reform of

22.
the working practices of the WTO;

EU-US security and defence matters

23.
Reiterates that NATO remains a fundamental guarantee of transatlantic stability and security and an
essential framework for coalition operations, and that it is in the interest of the Transatlantic Partnership
and the world’s stability to strengthen both NATO’s and the EU’s capabilities; underlines that military
interventions should be mandated by the UN;

24.
Reaffirms its interpretation of the ESDP as a policy to be developed to complement NATO and
strengthen its European pillar, which will make a decisive contribution to the interlinking of the police
and economic operators with the field of external security;

25.
Reiterates that the development of a European Defence Policy marked by an autonomous response
capacity intended to ensure a credible European military strike power will entail a substantial reinforce-
ment of NATO and thus strengthen transatlantic relations;

26.
Asks for more open transatlantic defence markets and for closer cooperation between transatlantic
defence industries, including the transatlantic transfer of defence technologies; welcomes the recent agree-
ment between the European Commission and the United States on the general principles of complemen-
tarity between the Galileo satellite radio navigation system, an initiative launched by the European Union
and the European Space Agency, and the current US GPS system;

Asks for the setting up of a framework for broader, permanent EU-US security dialogue on the basis
27.
of their respective Security Strategies, including in particular open discussions on conceptual differences
such as, on the one hand, preventive engagement, effective multilateralism, respect for international law
and the prominent role of the UN in international security (as in the EU Security Strategy), as opposed, on
the other hand, to pre-emptive unilateral military action, sole military superpower, national interest and
the concept of the mission defining the coalition (as in the US National Security Strategy);

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28.
Urges the EU and the United States to seek to ensure the revival of negotiated arms control and
disarmament at multilateral level within the UN system and at bilateral level, in order to prevent a new
arms race and reduce the existing arms arsenals, and to support regional and global action to prevent the
proliferation not only of weapons of mass destruction but also of small arms, light weapons and land
mines by providing adequate resources; calls on the EU and the USA efficiently to implement their respec-
tive Codes of Conduct on Arms Exports and to promote the elaboration of a UN Arms Trade Treaty
preventing the delivery of small arms and light weapons to regions of conflict;

29.

Reiterates its call on the USA

(cid:1) to stop the development of new generations of battlefield nuclear weapons (bunkerbusters),

(cid:1) to ratify the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty,

(cid:1) to ratify the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of

Anti-Personnel Mines and Their Destruction,

(cid:1) to abandon its resistance to the Compliance Protocol to the UN Biological and Toxic Weapons Con-

vention;

A renewed institutional framework on the horizon for December 2005

30.
Reiterates that the annual EU-US Summit should be restructured with a view to providing strategic
direction and impetus for the Transatlantic Partnership, and preceded by a parliamentary dialogue meeting
of Members of the EP and the US Congress in the framework of the TLD;

Recommends regular informal EU-US consultation at ministerial level in advance of EU-US sum-

31.
mits, supported by permanent joint policy planning;

32.
Proposes to strengthen the institutional structure for ongoing transatlantic political dialogue, build-
ing on the evolving Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD) between Members of the European Parliament
and the US Congress, with the ultimate aim of establishing an EU-US Transatlantic Assembly;

33.
Considers that all the abovementioned 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;

Encourages the constructive involvement of relevant communities of interest from American and

34.
European civil society in collaborative actions on Transatlantic Partnership priorities;

Notes that an agreement on a European Constitution which confers legal personality on the Euro-
35.
pean Union and provides for the appointment of a European Minister for Foreign Affairs will reinforce the
EU’s position on the international political scene and contribute to balanced transatlantic relations;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Parliaments of

36.
the Member States and the President and Congress of the United States of America.

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