EU-US relations: open skies, open markets, open minds?

This could lead to increased trade between Europe and America - a bilateral relationship that currently accounts for 40% of world trade and is estimated to create 14 million jobs.

 

 

The debate and resolution last Wednesday stressed the common interests that bring the EU and the US together. As well as a strong trade relationship, Washington and Brussels are committed to democracy and the rule of law. The cultural and historic link between the two continents was also stressed with Joseph Daul of the European People's Party (EPP) who said the "reconstruction of Europe wouldn't have been possible without the US". Brian Crowley for the Union of Europe for the Nations group (UEN) said both sides have "more in common than dividing us".

 

Stress was also laid on the need for a common front to deal with international problems including Afghanistan, the Middle East, nuclear non-proliferation and Kosovo. Angelika Beer for the Greens said Europe must be more proactive in relation to Kosovo and that we "cannot wait for the Americans to solve our problems for us". The resolution said cooperation with NATO remains important but asked for further explanation of the proposed US missile defence system, which could be based in the Czech Republic and Poland.

 

Some MEPs were cautiously optimistic that relations were on an upward path due to the election of a new Democrat Congress. Dutch Socialist Jan Wiersma spoke of a "new wind blowing in Washington" whilst Joseph Daul suggested that Nancy Pelosi, the new speaker of the US House of Representatives, should be invited to the Parliament.

 

 

The debate and resolution made it clear that differences remain. The resolution called again for the Guantánamo base to be closed and the inmates charged or released. It also called for the CIA's secret detention programme to be ended. In the middle of last month MEPs from the Civil Liberties Committee held talks with US lawmakers on several issues - notably the fight against terrorism.

 

A report critical of the CIA's renditions programme of terrorist suspects was condemned in a report supported by the European Parliament in February this year. Another source of differences with Washington is Parliament's insistence on strong legal safeguards regarding personal data - particularly in relation to air passengers.

 

Graham Watson of the Liberal ALDE bloc told MEPs that the EU must talk to Washington about torture, secret prisons and that it must acknowledge the problem of 2 million Iraqi refugees.

 

 

The US and EU are the two largest emitters of CO2 in the world. The EU has signed up to the Kyoto protocol (although not all members have met its standards) but the Bush Administration has refused to ratify the treaty. With Kyoto due to run out in 2012, MEPs called on the US to ratify it and work towards a new treaty.

 

The resolution also stressed the need for cooperation as "the EU and the US, representing 38% of world energy consumption, should take the lead through joint efforts to develop alternative energy production and energy efficiency".

 

 

With citizens from 12 EU countries still needing visas to travel to the US, a major demand from MEPs is that agreement be reached so as to ease travel across the Atlantic. Graham Watson called for a "transatlantic Schengen" to help business and leisure travellers.

 

Finally, the resolution calls for President of the World Bank, Paul Wolfowitz to resign in order to "prevent the Bank's anti-corruption policy from being undermined".