Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-01-12-Speech-3-182"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20050112.10.3-182"6
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the European Union and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@en4
|
| lpv:translated text |
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the United Nations and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@cs1
"Hr. formand, først og fremmest vil jeg gerne sige undskyld på kommissær Ferrero-Waldners vegne. Hun beklager meget, at hun ikke kan være til stede ved denne forhandling. Men grunden til, at hun ikke er her, har betydning for denne forhandling. Hun skulle have deltaget i Deres forhandling efter den oprindelige plan, men er nu på vej til Washington til møder med den siddende og kommende amerikanske regering, herunder udenrigsminister Colin Powell, kommende udenrigsminister Condoleezza Rice og den kommende nationale sikkerhedsrådgiver, Stephen Hadley. Fru Ferrero-Waldner vil orientere Udenrigsudvalget om dette besøg den 25. januar 2005.
Der er utvivlsomt mange af Dem, der har en følelse af, at vi kunne gøre mere og arbejde bedre sammen. Kommissionen deler denne opfattelse. For at vores samarbejde med USA skal fortsætte med at udvikle sig succesrigt, må vi stå sammen og være konsekvente, effektive og pragmatiske. Der bliver allerede gjort et vigtigt stykke arbejde på at styrke vores bånd igen. Kommissionen er ved at vurdere det bidrag, som de interesserede yder til denne drøftelse af, hvordan man kan forbedre det økonomiske partnerskab mellem EU og USA, og vi vil foreslå en strategi med konkrete skridt, når vi når til næste topmøde mellem EU og USA senere i år.
Vi vil også se på de institutionelle rammer for vores forbindelser igen. Kommissionen vil forelægge en meddelelse både om rammerne for forholdet og det økonomiske partnerskab for Parlamentet og Rådet i foråret, forud for topmødet mellem EU og USA.
Europa-Parlamentet har en vigtig rolle at spille med at styrke båndene mellem EU og USA. Vi har lyttet omhyggeligt til Deres synspunkter inden for rammer som det transatlantiske politiske netværk, og vi ser frem til en generel konstruktiv dialog med Dem om fremtiden for det transatlantiske partnerskab.
De er en vigtig allieret for os, når det gælder at sikre, at dette partnerskab trives og vokser sig stærkere i de kommende år. Vi er overbevist om, at yderligere dialog mellem Dem og USA's kongres vil være af afgørende betydning for at skabe et solidt fundament for vores indbyrdes forbindelser.
Lad mig til sidst understrege, at Kommissionen tillægger præsident Bushs besøg i Bruxelles den 22. februar stor betydning. Vi vil se dette som en væsentlig mulighed for at få liv i vores partnerskab igen og definere prioriteter og mål, som vi er enige om. Vi vil gøre alt, hvad vi kan for at sikre, at besøget bliver en succes, og at det bestyrker, hvad vi allerede ser som gode tegn på et forhold, der er ved at blive bedre.
Kommissionen glæder sig over muligheden for at drøfte transatlantiske relationer med Dem tidligt i denne parlamentsperiode. En fornyet overvejelse af vores forhold til USA vil stå højt på den politiske dagsorden i de nærmeste måneder og med god grund, eftersom resultatet vil have væsentlig indflydelse på udviklingen af det transatlantiske forhold i de kommende år. Forhandlingen i dag er både betimelig og velkommen.
Jeg vil gerne begynde med at nævne to enkle og uomtvistelige kendsgerninger. For det første er forholdet mellem EU og USA helt enestående og uerstatteligt. For det andet er regnskabet over de transatlantiske relationer i bund og grund positivt.
På den økonomiske front har vi det største handels- og investeringsforhold i verden med et tal i retning af 600 milliarder euro for handel i 2003 og en investering, som andrager 1.500 milliarder i 2002. Disse investeringer har direkte og indirekte affødt 12 millioner arbejdspladser på begge sider af Atlanten. Men vores forbindelser går et godt stykke ud over det økonomiske område, selv om nogle rapporter i medierne bliver ved med udelukkende at fokusere på den tidligere uenighed om Irak. Vi arbejder sammen med bemærkelsesværdig succes på steder som Balkan, Afghanistan og Ukraine. Når det er sagt, er det klart, at forholdet mellem EU og USA må tilpasse sig ændringerne i det sikkerhedsmæssige miljø og de ændrede globale prioriteringer. Det må også tilpasse sig ændringer i selve EU. Vi er overbevist om, at efterhånden som det udvidede EU's udenrigspolitik bliver stærkere, vil omfanget og intensiteten af vores forbindelser med USA gøre det samme.
I alt væsentligt er både EU og USA grundlagt på de samme principper og værdier: respekt for lov og orden, demokrati, menneskerettigheder og naturligvis en fri markedsøkonomi. Vi har også mange fælles interesser såsom kampen mod terrorisme, fremme af løsningen på regionale konflikter, håndtering af tredjelande, forbedring af de transatlantiske økonomiske forbindelser, en afslutning af WTO's Doha-runde og skabelse af global velstand. I mange tilfælde deler vi strategi, når det gælder at nå disse mål. I andre har vi forskellige tilgange til gennemførelsen, selv om vi deler de samme mål. Der er også spørgsmål, som vi ser fundamentalt forskelligt på, såsom hvordan man skal tackle klimaændringer og visse aspekter af menneskerettighederne og international lov.
Når man ser på de vigtigste spørgsmål mellem EU og USA i dag, er det naturligt at begynde med vores multilaterale bestræbelser i Det Indiske Ocean. Den menneskelige tragedie, der fandt sted for nylig, viste klart, at i krisetider kan kun effektivt internationalt samarbejde udrette noget. EU's og USA's bistand har været af afgørende betydning, og sammen har vi givet et godt eksempel på effektiv multilateralisme. Vi vil gerne fortsætte denne forkærlighed for effektiv multilateralisme ved at arbejde tæt sammen med USA om spørgsmål som en reform af FN og klimaforandringer.
For nu at gå over til et af de vigtigste områder, hvor der er strid mellem EU og USA, så meddelte min kollega, hr. Mandelson, i går, at EU og De Forenede Stater er blevet enige om betingelserne for at iværksætte forhandlinger om subsidier inden for den civile luftfartssektor. Målet med disse forhandlinger, der skal vare i tre måneder, er at afskaffe subsidier og at etablere en fair og markedsbaseret konkurrence mellem Boeing og Airbus. Med denne aftale har EU og USA bekræftet deres vilje til at løse den konflikt, der er opstået mellem dem om handel med store civile luftfartøjer, og til at bruge tid og penge på at gøre dette ved hjælp af forhandlinger snarere end at gå videre med striden gennem WTO's kanaler. Det er et vigtigt initiativ. Men det er begyndelsen til en proces, ikke afslutningen på den. Der er stadig meget at gøre. Kommissionen agter at arbejde tæt sammen med medlemsstaterne og Airbus såvel som med USA's handelsrepræsentanter for at nå et resultat, som bevarer Europas konkurrencedygtighed i denne vigtige sektor.
Med hensyn til regionale spørgsmål vil jeg gerne understrege tre områder, som vi er fælles om at prioritere. For det første må vi fordoble vores bestræbelser på at bringe fred til Mellemøsten, nu da der er blevet valgt en ny palæstinensisk ledelse. Det er af afgørende betydning, at vi gennem kvartetten bruger det positive momentum blandt parterne til at sikre fuld gennemførelse af køreplanen uden forsinkelse.
For det andet må vi fortsætte med at arbejde sammen om at hjælpe med til at få Irak ind på vejen til demokrati, fred, velstand og stabilitet. For det tredje deler vi det mål at forhindre Iran i at udvikle et atomvåbenpotentiale, og vi bør begge gøre vores bedste for at sikre, at Iran fuldt ud gennemfører Paris-aftalen."@da2
".
Herr Präsident, zunächst möchte ich die Entschuldigung von Kommissarin Ferrero-Waldner übermitteln. Sie bedauert es sehr, nicht an dieser Aussprache teilnehmen zu können. Jedoch steht der Grund ihres Fehlens in direktem Zusammenhang mit dieser Debatte. Zunächst war vorgesehen, dass sie bei dieser Aussprache zugegen ist, sie befindet sich nun jedoch auf dem Weg nach Washington, um mit Vertretern der gegenwärtigen und der künftigen US-Regierung zusammenzutreffen, darunter Außenminister Colin Powell, die künftige Außenministerin Condoleezza Rice und der künftige Nationale Sicherheitsberater Stephen Hadley. Frau Ferrero-Waldner wird den Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten am 25. Januar 2005 über diesen Besuch Bericht erstatten.
Zweifellos vertreten viele von Ihnen die Ansicht, dass wir mehr tun und besser zusammenarbeiten könnten. Die Kommission teilt diese Auffassung. Damit sich unsere Zusammenarbeit mit den USA auch weiterhin erfolgreich entwickelt, müssen wir geeint, konsequent, wirksam und pragmatisch vorgehen. Es gibt bereits umfangreiche Bemühungen, unsere Beziehungen wieder zu stärken. Derzeit prüft die Kommission die Stellungnahmen der Interessengruppen zu einem Ausbau der wirtschaftlichen Partnerschaft zwischen der EU und den USA, und wir werden zum nächsten Gipfel EU-USA im Verlauf dieses Jahres eine Strategie vorschlagen, die konkrete Schritte enthält.
Darüber hinaus überarbeiten wir auch den institutionellen Rahmen unserer Beziehungen. Die Kommission wird Parlament und Rat im Frühjahr vor dem Gipfel EU-USA Mitteilungen zum Rahmen für die Beziehungen und zur wirtschaftlichen Partnerschaft vorlegen.
Das Europäische Parlament spielt bei der Stärkung der Beziehungen zwischen der EU und den USA eine wichtige Rolle. Wir haben Ihre Standpunkte, die Sie in Gremien wie dem Transatlanic Police Network zum Ausdruck gebracht haben, aufmerksam verfolgt, und wir freuen uns auf einen konstruktiven Dialog über die Zukunft der transatlantischen Beziehungen mit Ihnen.
Sie sind für uns ein wichtiger Verbündeter, wenn es darum geht, diese Partnerschaft in den kommenden Jahren auszubauen und zu stärken. Wir sind überzeugt, dass die Fortsetzung des Dialogs zwischen dem Europäischen Parlament und dem US-Kongress wesentlich dazu beitragen wird, eine gute Grundlage für unsere bilateralen Beziehungen zu schaffen.
Abschließend möchte ich hervorheben, dass die Kommission dem Besuch von Präsident Bush am 22. Februar in Brüssel große Bedeutung beimisst. Wir betrachten dies als entscheidende Gelegenheit, unsere Partnerschaft wiederzubeleben und gemeinsame Prioritäten und Aufgaben festzulegen. Wir werden alles in unserer Macht Stehende tun, um sicherzustellen, dass dieser Besuch erfolgreich verlaufen und die von uns beobachteten Anzeichen einer gestärkten Partnerschaft bestätigen wird.
Die Kommission begrüßt die Gelegenheit, gleich zu Beginn dieser Wahlperiode mit Ihnen über die transatlantischen Beziehungen sprechen zu können. In den kommenden Monaten wird die Überprüfung des Stands unserer Beziehungen zu den USA unsere politische Tagesordnung mitbestimmen, und dies aus gutem Grund, denn das Ergebnis wird sich entscheidend auf die Entwicklung der transatlantischen Beziehungen in den kommenden Jahren auswirken. Die heutige Aussprache kommt zum richtigen Zeitpunkt und ist zu begrüßen.
Eingangs möchte ich auf zwei einfache und unwiderlegbare Tatsachen verweisen. Erstens zeichnen sich die Beziehungen EU-USA durch ihre Einzigartigkeit und Unersetzbarkeit aus. Zweitens ist die Bilanz der transatlantischen Beziehungen grundsätzlich positiv.
Was die Wirtschaft anbelangt, verfügen wir über die umfangreichsten Handels- und Investitionsbeziehungen weltweit. Der Handel belief sich im Jahre 2003 auf etwa 600 Milliarden und die Anlagewerte erreichten 2002 1,5 Billionen Euro. Mit diesen Investitionen wurden auf beiden Seiten des Atlantik direkt sowie indirekt ungefähr 12 Millionen Arbeitsplätze geschaffen. Doch unsere Beziehungen gehen weit über den Wirtschaftsbereich hinaus, auch wenn in einigen Medien ausschließlich über frühere Meinungsverschiedenheiten zum Thema Irak berichtet wird. Unsere Zusammenarbeit auf dem Balkan, in Afghanistan und in der Ukraine z. B. ist ausgesprochen erfolgreich. Angesichts dessen liegt es auf der Hand, dass sich die Beziehungen EU-USA an die neue Sicherheitslage und veränderte globale Prioritäten anpassen müssen. Sie müssen ferner den Veränderungen innerhalb der Europäischen Union Rechnung tragen. Wir sind überzeugt, dass mit einer außenpolitischen Stärkung der erweiterten EU auch Umfang und Intensität unserer Beziehungen zu den USA zunehmen werden.
Die Europäische Union und die Vereinigten Staaten berufen sich im Wesentlichen auf dieselben Grundsätze und Werte: Rechtsstaatlichkeit, Demokratie, Menschenrechte und natürlich freie Marktwirtschaft. Darüber hinaus haben wir zahlreiche gemeinsame Interessen wie den Kampf gegen den Terrorismus, die Förderung von Lösungen für regionale Konflikte, Kontakte mit Drittstaaten, Verbesserung der transatlantischen Wirtschaftsbeziehungen, Abschluss der WTO-Runde von Doha und Schaffung von globalem Wohlstand. In vielen Fällen verfolgen wir dieselbe Strategie, um diese Zielsetzungen zu verwirklichen. In anderen Fällen haben wir zwar gemeinsame Ziele, gehen jedoch bei der Umsetzung anders vor. Allerdings gibt es auch Themen, bei denen unsere Meinungen deutlich auseinander gehen, beispielsweise beim Umgang mit dem Klimawandel und einigen Aspekten der Menschenrechte und des Völkerrechts.
In Bezug auf die derzeit wichtigsten Themen der Beziehungen EU-USA ist es logisch, dass ich mit den multilateralen Bemühungen in den Ländern des Indischen Ozeans beginne. Die gegenwärtige menschliche Tragödie hat deutlich gezeigt, dass in Krisenzeiten nur eine wirksame internationale Zusammenarbeit von Erfolg gekrönt sein kann. Die Unterstützung durch die EU und die USA war von grundlegender Bedeutung, und gemeinsam haben wir ein gutes Beispiel für wirksamen Multilateralismus geliefert. Wir wollen auch weiterhin den wirksamen Multilateralismus zu unserer Priorität machen, indem wir in Fragen wie der Reform der Vereinten Nationen und dem Klimawandel eng mit den USA zusammenarbeiten.
Im Zusammenhang mit einer der wichtigsten Streitfragen zwischen der EU und den USA hat mein Kollege Peter Mandelson gestern angekündigt, dass sich die EU und die USA auf Bedingungen für die Aufnahme von Verhandlungen über Beihilfen im zivilen Luftfahrtsektor geeinigt haben. Ziel dieser dreimonatigen Verhandlungen ist es, die Beihilfen abzuschaffen und gerechte, marktorientierte Wettbewerbsbedingungen zwischen Boeing und Airbus zu schaffen. Mit dieser Einigung haben die EU und die USA ihre Bereitschaft gezeigt, ihren Streit im Bereich des Handels mit zivilen Großflugzeugen beizulegen, indem sie Zeit und Mittel in Verhandlungen investieren, anstatt den Streit im Rahmen des WTO-Mechanismus fortzusetzen. Dies ist ein entscheidender Schritt. Jedoch handelt es sich um den Beginn und nicht den Abschluss eines Prozesses. Es bleibt noch viel zu tun. Die Kommission will eng mit den Mitgliedstaaten und Airbus sowie mit dem US-Handelsbeauftragten zusammenarbeiten, um ein abschließendes Ergebnis zu erzielen, mit dem die europäische Wettbewerbsfähigkeit in diesem wichtigen Sektor nicht beeinträchtigt wird.
Im Bereich der Regionalpolitik möchte ich drei gemeinsame Schwerpunktbereiche hervorheben. Erstens sollten wir nach der Wahl der neuen palästinensischen Führung unsere Bemühungen um Frieden im Nahen Osten verdoppeln. Im Rahmen des Quartetts müssen wir unbedingt diesen positiven Impuls zwischen den Parteien nutzen, um eine vollständige und unverzügliche Umsetzung des Fahrplans sicherzustellen.
Zweitens müssen wir uns auch weiterhin gemeinsam darum bemühen, im Irak den Weg für Demokratie, Frieden, Wohlstand und Stabilität zu ebnen. Drittens besteht unser gemeinsames Ziel darin, eine Nuklearwaffenfähigkeit des Iran zu verhindern, und wir sollten beide alles in unserer Macht Stehende unternehmen, um zu gewährleisten, dass der Iran die Pariser Vereinbarung vollständig umsetzt."@de9
"Κύριε Πρόεδρε, πρώτα απ’ όλα θα ήθελα να μεταφέρω τη συγγνώμη της Επιτρόπου Ferrero-Waldner. Λυπάται πολύ που δεν είναι σε θέση να παραστεί σε αυτή τη συζήτηση. Ωστόσο, ο λόγος για τον οποίο δεν βρίσκεται εδώ έχει σχέση με την παρούσα συζήτηση. Αναμενόταν να συμμετάσχει στη συζήτησή σας όπως είχε προγραμματιστεί αρχικά, αλλά τώρα βρίσκεται καθ’ οδόν για την Ουάσιγκτον για συναντήσεις με την παρούσα και επερχόμενη αμερικανική κυβέρνηση, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του υπουργού Εξωτερικών Colin Powell, της μελλοντικής υπουργού Εξωτερικών Condoleezza Rice και του μελλοντικού Συμβούλου Εθνικής Ασφάλειας, Stephen Hadley. Η κ. Ferrero-Waldner θα ενημερώσει την Επιτροπή Εξωτερικών Υποθέσεων σχετικά με αυτή την επίσκεψη στις 25 Ιανουαρίου 2005.
Χωρίς αμφιβολία πολλοί από εσάς έχετε την αίσθηση ότι θα μπορούσαμε να κάνουμε περισσότερα και να συνεργαστούμε καλύτερα. Η Επιτροπή συμμερίζεται αυτή την αίσθηση. Προκειμένου η συνεργασία μας με τις ΗΠΑ να συνεχίσει να αναπτύσσεται επιτυχώς πρέπει να είμαστε ενωμένοι, σταθεροί, αποτελεσματικοί και ρεαλιστές. Έχει ήδη γίνει σημαντικό έργο για να αναζωογονηθούν οι δεσμοί μας. Η Επιτροπή αξιολογεί τη συμβολή των ενδιαφερομένων στη συζήτηση όσον αφορά το πώς να ενισχύσουμε την οικονομική εταιρική σχέση ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ και θα προτείνουμε μια στρατηγική, με συγκεκριμένα μέτρα, μέχρι την επόμενη διάσκεψη κορυφής ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ που θα διεξαχθεί φέτος.
Επανεξετάζουμε επίσης το θεσμικό πλαίσιο των σχέσεων μας. Την άνοιξη, πριν από τη διάσκεψη ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ, η Επιτροπή θα παρουσιάσει στο Κοινοβούλιο και το Συμβούλιο μια ανακοίνωση τόσο για το πλαίσιο των σχέσεων όσο και για την οικονομική εταιρική σχέση.
Το Ευρωπαϊκό Κοινοβούλιο μπορεί να διαδραματίσει σημαντικό ρόλο στην προαγωγή των δεσμών ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ. Ακούσαμε προσεκτικά τις απόψεις σας στο πλαίσιο του δικτύου διατλαντικής πολιτικής, και ανυπομονούμε για έναν γενικό εποικοδομητικό διάλογο μαζί σας για το μέλλον της διατλαντικής εταιρικής σχέσης.
Είστε ένας σημαντικός σύμμαχος στην προσπάθειά μας να διασφαλίσουμε ότι αυτή η εταιρική σχέση θα ευημερήσει και θα ενισχυθεί τα επόμενα χρόνια. Είμαστε πεπεισμένοι ότι ο περαιτέρω διάλογος ανάμεσα σε σας και στο Κογκρέσο των ΗΠΑ θα είναι απαραίτητος για την εδραίωση μιας καλής βάσης για τις διμερείς μας σχέσεις.
Τέλος, επιτρέψτε μου να υπογραμμίσω ότι η Επιτροπή προσδίδει μεγάλη σημασία στην επίσκεψη του Προέδρου Μπους στις Βρυξέλλες στις 22 Φεβρουαρίου. Θεωρούμε ότι είναι μια μεγάλη ευκαιρία για να αναζωογονήσουμε την εταιρική μας σχέση και να καθορίσουμε κοινές προτεραιότητες και αποστολές. Θα κάνουμε ό,τι περνά από το χέρι μας για να διασφαλίσουμε ότι η επίσκεψη θα είναι επιτυχής και ότι θα επιβεβαιώσει αυτά που θεωρούμε ήδη ως ευοίωνα σημάδια μιας βελτιούμενης σχέσης.
Η Επιτροπή χαιρετίζει την ευκαιρία να συζητήσει τις διατλαντικές σχέσεις μαζί σας ήδη από τις αρχές της κοινοβουλευτικής περιόδου. Η επανεξέταση της κατάστασης των σχέσεών μας με τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες θα βρίσκεται στις πρώτες θέσεις της πολιτικής μας ατζέντας για τους προσεχείς μήνες, και δικαίως, εφόσον το αποτέλεσμα θα έχει μεγάλη επίδραση στις εξελίξεις όσον αφορά τη διατλαντική σχέση τα επόμενα χρόνια. Αυτή η συζήτηση σήμερα είναι και επίκαιρη και ευπρόσδεκτη.
Θα ήθελα να αρχίσω επισημαίνοντας δύο απλά και αναντίρρητα γεγονότα. Πρώτον, οι σχέσεις ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ είναι πράγματι μοναδικές και αναντικατάστατες. Δεύτερον, ο απολογισμός των διατλαντικών σχέσεων είναι κατά βάση θετικός.
Όσον αφορά το οικονομικό μέτωπο, έχουμε τη μεγαλύτερη σχέση εμπορίου και επενδύσεων στον κόσμο, με αξία συναλλαγών της τάξεως των 600 δισεκατομμυρίων ευρώ το 2003, και αξία επενδύσεων ύψους 1500 δισεκατομμυρίων ευρώ το 2002. Αυτές οι επενδύσεις δημιούργησαν, άμεσα ή έμμεσα, περίπου 12 εκατομμύρια θέσεις εργασίας και στις δύο πλευρές του Ατλαντικού. Αλλά οι σχέσεις μας εκτείνονται και πέραν των οικονομικών θεμάτων, ακόμη και αν κάποιες αναφορές των μέσων μαζικής ενημέρωσης συνεχίζουν να εστιάζουν αποκλειστικά σε διχόνοιες του παρελθόντος για το Ιράκ. Εργαζόμαστε από κοινού με αξιοσημείωτη επιτυχία σε περιοχές όπως τα Βαλκάνια, το Αφγανιστάν, και η Ουκρανία. Ως εκ τούτου, είναι προφανές ότι οι σχέσεις ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ πρέπει να προσαρμοστούν στο μεταβαλλόμενο περιβάλλον ασφάλειας και στις μεταβαλλόμενες παγκόσμιες προτεραιότητες. Πρέπει επίσης να προσαρμοστούν σε αλλαγές στο πλαίσιο της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης. Είμαστε πεπεισμένοι ότι, όσο ενισχύεται η εξωτερική πολιτική της διευρυμένης ΕΕ, τόσο επίσης θα ενισχύεται το εύρος και η ένταση των σχέσεών μας με τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες.
Ουσιαστικά, η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση και οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες θεμελιώνονται και οι δύο στις ίδιες αρχές και αξίες: σεβασμός στο κράτος δικαίου, τη δημοκρατία, τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, ενώ βεβαίως είναι και οι δύο οικονομίες ελεύθερης αγοράς. Μοιραζόμαστε επίσης πολλά κοινά συμφέροντα, όπως η καταπολέμηση της τρομοκρατίας, η προώθηση λύσεων σε περιφερειακές συγκρούσεις, οι συναλλαγές με τρίτες χώρες, η βελτίωση των διατλαντικών οικονομικών σχέσεων, η ολοκλήρωση των διαπραγματεύσεων του ΠΟΕ στη Ντόχα, και η δημιουργία παγκόσμιας ευημερίας. Σε πολλές περιπτώσεις, μοιραζόμαστε την ίδια στρατηγική για την επίτευξη αυτών των στόχων. Σε άλλες, αν και έχουμε τους ίδιους στόχους, έχουμε διαφορετικές προσεγγίσεις ως προς την επίτευξή τους. Υπάρχουν επίσης θέματα στα οποία οι απόψεις μας διίστανται ουσιαστικά, όπως το πώς θα αντιμετωπίσουμε την αλλαγή του κλίματος και ορισμένες πτυχές των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων και του διεθνούς δικαίου.
Εξετάζοντας τα κεντρικά θέματα που απασχολούν τις σχέσεις ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ σήμερα, είναι φυσικό να αρχίσουμε με τις πολυμερείς προσπάθειες στον Ινδικό Ωκεανό. Η πρόσφατη ανθρώπινη τραγωδία έδειξε σαφώς ότι, σε καιρούς κρίσης, μόνο η αποτελεσματική διεθνής συνεργασία μπορεί να επιφέρει αποτελέσματα. Η αρωγή της ΕΕ και των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών υπήρξε ζωτική, και μαζί δώσαμε το καλό παράδειγμα αποτελεσματικής πολυμερούς προσέγγισης. Θέλουμε να συνεχίσουμε αυτή την προτίμηση για αποτελεσματική πολυμερή προσέγγιση συνεργαζόμενοι στενά με τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες σε θέματα όπως η μεταρρύθμιση του Οργανισμού Ηνωμένων Εθνών και η αλλαγή του κλίματος.
Όσον αφορά έναν από τους πιο σημαντικούς τομείς διαμάχης μεταξύ της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης και των Ηνωμένων Πολιτειών, ο συνάδελφός μου κ. Mandelson ανακοίνωσε χθες ότι η ΕΕ και οι Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες συμφώνησαν σε όρους για την έναρξη διαπραγματεύσεων όσον αφορά επιδοτήσεις οι οποίες επηρεάζουν τον τομέα της πολιτικής αεροπορίας. Ο στόχος αυτών των διαπραγματεύσεων, οι οποίες θα διαρκέσουν τρεις μήνες, είναι να περιορίσουν τις επιδοτήσεις και να επιβάλλουν θεμιτό, βασισμένο στην αγορά ανταγωνισμό μεταξύ της Boeing και της Airbus. Με αυτή τη συμφωνία, η ΕΕ και οι ΗΠΑ επιβεβαίωσαν την προθυμία τους να επιλύσουν τη διαμάχη που ανέκυψε μεταξύ τους σχετικά με το εμπόριο μεγάλων πολιτικών αεροσκαφών, και να αφιερώσουν χρόνο και πόρους για να το επιτύχουν μέσω των διαπραγματεύσεων, και όχι διαιωνίζοντας τη διαμάχη μέσω των διαύλων του ΠΟΕ. Αυτή είναι μια σημαντική κίνηση. Ωστόσο, είναι η αρχή μιας διαδικασίας και όχι η κατάληξη. Μένουν να γίνουν ακόμη πολλά. Η Επιτροπή προτίθεται να συνεργαστεί στενά με τα κράτη μέλη και την Airbus, καθώς και με τον εμπορικό εκπρόσωπο των ΗΠΑ, προκειμένου να επιτύχει ένα τελικό αποτέλεσμα το οποίο να διατηρεί την ανταγωνιστικότητα της Ευρώπης σε αυτόν τον σημαντικό τομέα.
Όσον αφορά τα περιφερειακά θέματα θα ήθελα να τονίσω τρεις τομείς κοινής προτεραιότητας. Πρώτον, θα πρέπει να πολλαπλασιάσουμε τις προσπάθειές μας για να φέρουμε ειρήνη στη Μέση Ανατολή τώρα που εξελέγη η νέα παλαιστινιακή ηγεσία. Είναι ζωτικής σημασίας να χρησιμοποιήσουμε, μέσω της Τετραμερούς, τη θετική ώθηση μεταξύ των μερών για να διασφαλίσουμε το ταχύτερο δυνατόν την πλήρη υλοποίηση του οδικού χάρτη.
Δεύτερον, πρέπει να συνεχίσουμε να εργαζόμαστε από κοινού για να βοηθήσουμε να μπει το Ιράκ στον δρόμο προς τη δημοκρατία, την ειρήνη, την ευημερία και τη σταθερότητα. Τρίτον, κοινός μας στόχος είναι επίσης να αποτρέψουμε την ανάπτυξη ικανότητας πυρηνικών όπλων από το Ιράν, και θα έπρεπε και οι δύο πλευρές να βάλουμε τα δυνατά μας για να διασφαλίσουμε ότι το Ιράν θα εφαρμόσει πλήρως τη Συμφωνία του Παρισιού."@el10
".
Señor Presidente, en primer lugar quiero pedir disculpas en nombre de la Comisaria Ferrero-Waldner. Lamenta muchísimo no poder asistir a este debate. Sin embargo, la razón de que no esté aquí tiene que ver con el objeto del debate. En un principio, tenía que participar en el debate tal como estaba previsto, pero ahora se encuentra camino de Washington para reunirse con la administración estadounidense actual y futura, entre otros con el Secretario de Estado Colin Powell, la futura Secretaria de Estado Condoleezza Rice y el futuro Consejero de Seguridad Nacional Stephen Hadley. La señora Ferrero-Waldner informará a la Comisión de Asuntos Exteriores sobre esa visita el 25 de enero de 2005.
Sin duda, muchos de ustedes tienen la sensación de que juntos podríamos hacer más y trabajar mejor. La Comisión comparte esa sensación. Para que nuestra cooperación con los Estados Unidos siga siendo satisfactoria, debemos estar unidos, mostrarnos coherentes, eficaces y pragmáticos. Ya se ha llevado a cabo un trabajo importante para reforzar nuestros vínculos. La Comisión valora actualmente las aportaciones de los interesados al debate sobre el modo de mejorar la asociación económica entre la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos y propondrá una estrategia, con pasos concretos, antes de la cumbre de ambas partes que se celebrará este mismo año.
También estamos revisando el marco institucional de nuestras relaciones. En primavera, antes de la cumbre de la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos, la Comisión presentará al Parlamento y al Consejo una comunicación tanto sobre el marco para las relaciones como sobre la asociación económica.
El Parlamento Europeo desempeña un papel importante en la consolidación de los vínculos entre la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos. Hemos escuchado con atención sus opiniones sobre temas como el de la red política transatlántica, y esperamos mantener un diálogo general constructivo con ustedes sobre el futuro de la asociación transatlántica.
El Parlamento Europeo es un aliado importante para asegurar que esta asociación prospere y se refuerce en los próximos años. Estamos convencidos de que un mayor diálogo entre este Parlamento y el Congreso de los Estados Unidos será esencial para establecer una buena base para nuestras relaciones bilaterales.
Finalmente, permítanme resaltar que la Comisión otorga gran importancia a la visita del Presidente Bush a Bruselas el 22 de febrero. Consideramos que es una gran oportunidad para revitalizar nuestra colaboración y definir prioridades y misiones comunes. Haremos todo lo que esté en nuestras manos para asegurar que esa visita sea un éxito y que confirme lo que ya vemos como un signo prometedor de una mejor relación.
La Comisión agradece esta oportunidad de debatir las relaciones transatlánticas con sus Señorías al comienzo de esta legislatura. La revisión del estado de nuestras relaciones con los Estados Unidos será una de las máximas prioridades de nuestra agenda política en los próximos meses, y por buenos motivos, dado que los resultados influirán en gran manera en la evolución de las relaciones transatlánticas de los próximos años. Este debate de hoy es oportuno y bienvenido.
Quiero empezar constatando dos hechos simples e irrefutables. Primero, las relaciones entre la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos son realmente únicas e irreemplazables. Segundo, el balance de las relaciones transatlánticas es fundamentalmente positivo.
En el frente económico, mantenemos la relación comercial y de inversión más grande del mundo, con cifras como un comercio por valor de 600 000 millones de euros en 2003, y unas inversiones que alcanzaron los 1 500 millones de euros en 2002. Esas inversiones han creado, directa o indirectamente, unos 12 millones de puestos de trabajo a ambos lados del Atlántico. Pero nuestras relaciones se extienden mucho más allá del ámbito de la economía, aunque algunos medios de comunicación sigan centrándose exclusivamente en las diferencias pasadas respecto a Iraq. Estamos trabajando juntos con notable éxito en sitios como los Balcanes, Afganistán y Ucrania. Dicho esto, queda claro que la relación de la UE con los Estados Unidos debe adaptarse al nuevo entorno de seguridad y a las nuevas prioridades mundiales. También debe adaptarse a los cambios dentro de la Unión Europea. Estamos convencidos de que a medida que se consolide la política exterior de la UE ampliada, también lo harán el alcance y la intensidad de nuestras relaciones con los Estados Unidos.
En esencia, la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos se basan en los mismos principios y valores: el respeto del Estado de Derecho, la democracia, los derechos humanos y, por supuesto, las economías de libre mercado. También compartimos muchos intereses comunes, como la lucha contra el terrorismo, la promoción de soluciones para los conflictos regionales, la relación con terceros países, la mejora de las relaciones económicas transatlánticas, la conclusión de la ronda de Doha de la OMC, y la creación de prosperidad a escala mundial. En muchos casos, compartimos la misma estrategia para poner en práctica esos objetivos. En otros, aunque compartimos los objetivos, tenemos diferentes planteamientos respecto a su puesta en práctica. También hay temas en los que nuestros puntos de vista difieren fundamentalmente, como la cuestión del cambio climático, y algunos aspectos de los derechos humanos y del Derecho internacional.
Si hoy observamos los principales temas debatidos entre la Unión Europea y los Estados Unidos, lo natural es empezar con nuestros esfuerzos multilaterales en el Océano Índico. La reciente tragedia humana ha demostrado claramente que en momentos de crisis solo puede prevalecer la cooperación internacional efectiva. La asistencia de la UE y de los Estados Unidos ha sido vital, y juntos hemos dado un buen ejemplo de multilateralismo eficaz. Queremos mantener esta preferencia por el multilateralismo efectivo trabajando de cerca con los Estados Unidos en temas como la reforma de las Naciones Unidas y el cambio climático.
Volviendo a uno de los ámbitos más significativos del conflicto entre las Naciones Unidas y los Estados Unidos, mi colega el señor Mandelson anunció ayer que la UE y los Estados Unidos han acordado las condiciones para entablar negociaciones sobre las subvenciones al sector de la aviación civil. El objetivo de esas negociaciones, que durarán tres meses, es eliminar las subvenciones y establecer una competencia justa, basada en el mercado, entre Boeing y Airbus. Con este acuerdo, la UE y los Estados Unidos han confirmado su voluntad de resolver el conflicto que ha surgido en el negocio de las grandes aeronaves civiles, y dedicar tiempo y recursos para conseguirlo mediante la negociación, en vez de mantener la disputa a través de los canales de la OMC. Se trata de un avance considerable. Pero este es el inicio de un proceso y no el final. Todavía queda mucho por hacer. La Comisión tiene intención de trabajar muy de cerca con los Estados miembros y con Airbus, así como con el representante comercial de los Estados Unidos, para conseguir un resultado final que mantenga la competitividad de Europa en este importante sector.
En cuanto a los temas regionales, quisiera subrayar tres áreas de prioridad común. En primer lugar, deberíamos redoblar nuestros esfuerzos por llevar la paz a Oriente Próximo, ahora que ha sido elegida una nueva dirección palestina. Es esencial que, a través del Cuarteto, utilicemos el impulso positivo de los partidos para asegurar la plena aplicación de la hoja de ruta sin más demora.
En segundo lugar, debemos seguir cooperando para ayudar a que Iraq entre en la vía de la democracia, la paz, la prosperidad y la estabilidad. En tercer lugar, compartimos el objetivo de impedir que Irán adquiera capacidad para fabricar armas nucleares y juntos deberíamos hacer todo lo posible por que el Irán cumpla en su totalidad el Acuerdo de París."@es20
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the United Nations and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@et5
".
Arvoisa puhemies, aivan ensimmäiseksi haluan välittää teille komission jäsenen Ferrero Waldnerin anteeksipyynnön. Hän on hyvin pahoillaan siitä, ettei voinut osallistua keskusteluun. Hänen poissaolonsa syynä on kuitenkin juuri se, mikä on tässä keskustelussa aiheena. Hänen oli määrä osallistua keskusteluun alun perin sovitusti, mutta hän on parhaillaan matkalla Washingtoniin tapaamaan nykyistä ja tulevaa Yhdysvaltain hallintoa, muun muassa ulkoministeri Colin Powellia, tulevaa ulkoministeriä Condoleezza Ricea ja tulevaa turvallisuuspoliittista neuvonantajaa Stephen Hadleyta. Komission jäsen Ferrero Waldner pitää vierailusta tiedotustilaisuuden ulkoasiainvaliokunnalle 25. tammikuuta 2005.
On ilmeistä, että monet teistä ovat sitä mieltä, että voisimme tehdä paljon enemmän ja tehdä yhteistyötä paremmin. Komissio on samaa mieltä kanssanne. Jotta yhteistyömme Yhdysvaltojen kanssa kehittyisi jatkossakin suotuisasti, meidän on oltava yksituumaisia, johdonmukaisia, tehokkaita ja käytännönläheisiä. Jo nyt tehdään merkittävää työtä siteidemme vahvistamiseksi. Komissio arvioi parhaillaan seikkoja, joita sidosryhmät ovat keskusteluissa esittäneet siitä, kuinka voisimme tehostaa EU:n ja Yhdysvaltojen taloudellista kumppanuutta, ja aiomme ehdottaa myöhemmin tänä vuonna pidettävään EU:n ja Yhdysvaltojen väliseen huippukokoukseen mennessä strategiaa, johon sisältyy käytännön toimia.
Arvioimme parhaillaan myös suhteidemme institutionaalisia puitteita. Komissio esittää parlamentille ja neuvostolle keväällä ennen EU:n ja Yhdysvaltojen huippukokousta suhteiden puitteita ja taloudellista kumppanuutta koskevan tiedonannon.
Euroopan parlamentilla on tärkeä tehtävä EU:n ja Yhdysvaltojen siteiden kehittämisessä. Olemme kuunnelleet tarkasti näkemyksiänne esimerkiksi Transatlanttisessa poliittisessa verkostossa (Transatlantic Policy Network), ja toivomme välillemme yleisesti rakentavaa vuoropuhelua transatlanttisen kumppanuuden tulevaisuudesta.
Te olette meille tärkeä liittolainen pyrkiessämme kukoistavaan ja lähivuosien aikana entisestään vahvistuneeseen kumppanuuteen. Olemme vakuuttuneita siitä, että vuoropuhelun jatkaminen teidän kanssanne ja Yhdysvaltain kongressin kanssa on olennaisen tärkeää lujan perustan luomiseksi kahdenvälisille suhteillemme.
Lopuksi haluan vielä korostaa, että komissio pitää presidentti Bushin 22. helmikuuta tapahtuvaa vierailua erityisen merkittävänä. Pidämme sitä merkittävänä tilaisuutena vahvistaa kumppanuuttamme ja määritellä yhteisiä painopistealueita ja tehtäviä. Teemme kaiken mahdollisen varmistaaksemme, että vierailu onnistuu ja että vierailu vahvistaa sen, minkä olemme jo havainneet hyvinä merkkeinä suhteiden parantumisesta.
Komissio on tyytyväinen siihen, että voimme keskustella kanssanne transatlanttisista suhteista heti tämän lainsäädäntökauden aluksi. Yhdysvaltojen-suhteidemme tilan arviointi on lähikuukausina perustellusti keskeisellä sijalla poliittisella asialistallanne, koska arvioinnin tulos vaikuttaa suuresti siihen, mihin suuntaan transatlanttiset suhteemme kehittyvät lähivuosina. Tämänpäiväinen keskustelu on sekä ajankohtainen että tervetullut.
Haluan heti aluksi esittää kaksi yksinkertaista ja kiistatonta tosiasiaa. Ensinnäkin EU:n ja Yhdysvaltojen suhteet ovat ainutlaatuiset ja korvaamattomat. Toiseksi transatlanttisten suhteiden lopputulema on perustaltaan myönteinen.
Taloudelliselta kannalta katsottuna maidemme välillä käydään kauppa ja tehdään investointeja eniten maailmassa. Vuonna 2003 kaupan arvo oli 600 miljardia euroa, ja vuonna 2002 investointien arvo 1 500 miljardia euroa. Näillä sijoituksilla on luotu suoraan tai epäsuorasti noin 12 miljoonaa työpaikkaa kummallekin puolelle Atlanttia. Suhteemme eivät ole kuitenkaan pelkästään taloudelliset siitäkään huolimatta, että joissakin uutisissa keskitytään jatkuvasti vain Irakia koskeviin erimielisyyksiin. Teemme menestyksekkäästi yhteistyötä esimerkiksi Balkanilla, Afganistanissa ja Ukrainassa. Tämän jälkeen on sanomattakin selvää, että EU:n ja Yhdysvaltojen suhteiden on muututtava turvallisuusympäristön ja maailmanlaajuisten painopisteiden muuttuessa. Suhteiden on muututtava myös Euroopan unionin muuttuessa. Olemme vakuuttuneita siitä, että laajentuneen EU:n ulkopolitiikan vahvistuessa myös Yhdysvaltojen-suhteemme laajentuvat ja vahvistuvat entisestään.
Pohjimmiltaan Euroopan unioni ja Yhdysvallat rakentuvat kumpikin samojen periaatteiden ja arvojen eli oikeusvaltion, demokratian ja ihmisoikeuksien kunnioittamisen ja tietenkin vapaan markkinatalouden varaan. Meillä on myös paljon yhteisiä etunäkökohtia, kuten terrorismin torjunta, ratkaisujen löytäminen alueellisiin selkkauksiin, toiminta kolmansien maiden kanssa, transatlanttisten taloudellisten suhteiden parantaminen, WTO:n Dohan kierroksen saattaminen päätökseen ja maailmanlaajuisen vaurauden luominen. Monissa kysymyksissä pyrimme tavoitteisiin saman strategian avulla. Toisaalta on kysymyksiä, joissa meillä on samat tavoitteet, mutta pyrimme toteuttamaan niitä eriävien strategioiden avulla. On myös kysymyksiä, joista olemme täysin eri mieltä, esimerkkinä ilmastonmuutoksen hallinta ja joiltakin osin myös ihmisoikeudet ja kansainvälinen oikeus.
Kun luodaan silmäys tämänhetkisiin EU:ta ja Yhdysvaltoja eniten koskeviin kysymyksiin, on luonnollista ottaa esille monenväliset ponnistelumme Intian valtameren alueella. Äskettäinen inhimillinen murhenäytelmä osoitti selvästi sen, että kriisin hetkellä tarvitaan aina tehokasta kansainvälistä yhteistyötä. EU:n ja Yhdysvaltojen toimittama apu on ollut elintärkeää, ja olemme yhdessä osoittaneet esimerkillisesti sen, mitä on tehokas monenvälisyys. Haluamme jatkossakin asettaa tehokkaan monenvälisyyden etusijalle siten, että teemme tiiviisti yhteistyötä Yhdysvaltojen kanssa Yhdistyneiden Kansakuntien uudistamisen ja ilmastonmuutoksen kaltaisten kysymysten saralla.
Seuraavaksi käsittelen yhtä kaikkein suurimmista erimielisyyden aiheista EU:n ja Yhdysvaltojen välillä. Kollegani Mandelson ilmoitti eilen, että EU ja Yhdysvallat ovat sopineet ehdoista, joiden pohjalta neuvottelut siviili-ilmailusektorille myönnettävistä tuista aloitetaan. Kolme kuukautta kestävien neuvottelujen tavoitteena on tuista luopuminen ja markkinatalouteen perustuvan rehellisen kilpailutilanteen luominen Boeingin ja Airbusin välille. Tällä sopimuksellaan EU ja Yhdysvallat ovat ilmaisseet tahtonsa siihen, että suurten siviili-ilma-alusten kaupan alalla niiden välille syntynyt kiista ratkaistaan ja että aikaa ja voimavaroja uhrataan tässä onnistumiseen pikemminkin neuvotteluteitse kuin viemällä kiista WTO:n elinten ratkottavaksi. Tämä on merkittävä saavutus. Tämä on kuitenkin vasta prosessin alku, eikä sen päätös. Paljon työtä on vielä tehtävä. Komissio aikoo tehdä tiiviisti yhteistyötä jäsenvaltioiden ja Airbusin kanssa sekä Yhdysvaltojen kauppapoliittisen edustajan kanssa sellaisen lopputuloksen saavuttamiseksi, jolla säilytetään Euroopan kilpailukyky tällä merkittävällä alalla.
Alueellisten kysymysten osalta haluan ottaa esille kolme yhteistä painopistealuetta. Ensinnäkin meidän olisi kaksinkertaistettava toimemme Lähi-idän rauhoittamiseksi nyt, kun palestiinalaiset ovat valinneet itselleen uuden johtajan. On ratkaisevan tärkeää, että käytämme kvartetin avulla hyväksi osapuolten välistä myönteistä ilmapiiriä varmistaaksemme viipymättä rauhansuunnitelman täysimääräisen täytäntöönpanon.
Toiseksi meidän on tehtävä edelleen yhteistyötä vaikuttaaksemme siihen, että Irakissa alkaisi demokratiaan, rauhaan, vaurauteen ja vakauteen johtava kehitys. Kolmanneksi meidän molempien yhteisenä tavoitteena on estää Iranin kehittyminen ydinasevallaksi ja meidän molempien olisi tehtävä kaikkemme varmistaaksemme, että Iran noudattaa Pariisin yleissopimusta täydellisesti."@fi7
".
Monsieur le Président, permettez-moi en premier lieu d’excuser la commissaire Mme Ferrero-Waldner. Elle regrette vivement de ne pas être en mesure d’assister au présent débat, mais la raison de son absence a un rapport direct avec le débat qui nous occupe. Elle devait participer à celui-ci tel qu’il avait été initialement prévu, mais elle se rend actuellement à Washington où elle doit rencontrer l’actuel et futur gouvernement américain, notamment l’actuel secrétaire d’État, M. Colin Powell, la future secrétaire d’État, Mme Condoleezza Rice, ainsi que le futur conseiller à la sécurité nationale, M. Stephen Hadley. Mme Ferrero-Waldner rendra compte de sa visite devant la commission des affaires étrangères le 25 janvier 2005.
Je suis sûr que nombre d’entre vous estiment que nous pourrions en faire davantage et améliorer notre collaboration. La Commission partage ce sentiment. Afin de garantir la poursuite d’une coopération fructueuse avec les États-Unis, nous devons faire preuve d’unité, de cohérence, d’efficacité et de pragmatisme. Nous travaillons déjà de façon ardue en vue de revigorer les liens qui nous unissent. La Commission est actuellement en train d’évaluer la contribution des parties prenantes à la discussion portant sur la manière d’améliorer le partenariat économique entre l’Union européenne et les États-Unis et nous proposerons une stratégie, comprenant des mesures concrètes, d’ici le prochain sommet UE/États-Unis prévu dans le courant de cette année.
Nous sommes également en train de réexaminer le cadre institutionnel de nos relations. La Commission présentera une communication relative au cadre de nos relations et au partenariat économique au Parlement et au Conseil au printemps, c’est-à-dire préalablement au sommet UE/États-Unis.
Le Parlement européen a un rôle important à jouer dans le renforcement des liens entre l’UE et les États-Unis. Nous avons écouté avec attention vos opinions dans le cadre notamment du Transatlantic Political Network et nous nous réjouissons à l’idée d’entamer avec vous un dialogue général constructif sur l’avenir du partenariat transatlantique.
Vous êtes un allié important pour nous pour assurer le développement et l’intensification de ce partenariat au cours des prochaines années. Nous sommes convaincus que la poursuite du dialogue que vous mènerez avec le Congrès américain sera essentielle à l’instauration d’une base solide de nos relations bilatérales.
Permettez-moi enfin de souligner que la Commission attache une grande importance à la visite qu’effectuera le président Bush à Bruxelles le 22 février. Nous considérons que cet événement sera une excellente occasion de revitaliser notre partenariat et de définir des priorités et des missions communes. Nous ferons tout ce qui est en notre pouvoir pour assurer le succès de cette visite et pour corroborer les signes avant-coureurs et prometteurs d’une amélioration des relations transatlantiques.
La Commission se félicite de l’occasion qui lui est offerte de discuter avec vous de la question des relations transatlantiques dès le début de la présente législature. L’examen de l’état de nos relations avec les États-Unis figurera au centre de nos priorités politiques dans les mois à venir et cela pour de bonnes raisons étant donné que le résultat de cet examen aura une influence majeure sur l’évolution des relations transatlantiques au cours des prochaines années. Le débat d’aujourd’hui arrive donc à un moment opportun et est le bienvenu.
Je voudrais commencer mon intervention en vous énonçant deux faits simples et irréfutables. Primo, les relations entre l’Union européenne et les États-Unis sont véritablement uniques et irremplaçables. Secundo, le bilan de nos relations transatlantiques est en soi positif.
Sur le plan économique, nos relations en matière de commerce et d’investissements sont les plus importantes du monde: les échanges commerciaux ont représenté 600 milliards d’euros en 2003 et les valeurs d’investissement s’élevaient en 2002 à 1 500 milliards d’euros. Ces investissements ont créé, de façon directe ou indirecte, quelque 12 millions d’emplois de part et d’autre de l’Atlantique. Nos relations dépassent toutefois largement le cadre économique même si certains médias continuent à concentrer exclusivement l’attention sur nos divisions passées à propos de l’Irak. Notre collaboration enregistre des succès remarquables dans les Balkans, en Afghanistan et en Ukraine, par exemple. Cela dit, il est clair que les relations UE/États-Unis doivent s’adapter aux situations nouvelles en matière de sécurité ainsi qu’aux priorités nouvelles dans le monde. Elles doivent également s’adapter aux changements qui interviennent au sein de l’Union européenne. Nous sommes convaincus que la portée et l’intensité de nos relations avec les États-Unis se renforceront à l’instar de la politique étrangère de l’Union européenne élargie.
Dans le fond, l’Union européenne et les États-Unis reposent tous deux sur les mêmes principes et valeurs: le respect de l’état de droit, la démocratie, les droits de l’homme et bien sûr l’économie de marché. Nous partageons également de nombreux intérêts communs tels que la lutte contre le terrorisme, la recherche de solutions aux conflits régionaux, les relations avec les pays tiers, l’amélioration des relations économiques transatlantiques, la conclusion du cycle de Doha dans le cadre de l’OMC ainsi que la prospérité dans le monde. Et dans de nombreux cas, nous partageons la même stratégie pour atteindre ces objectifs. Dans d’autres, bien que nous partagions les mêmes objectifs, nos approches diffèrent. Il y a aussi d’autres problèmes à propos desquels nos vues diffèrent sensiblement: la manière d’aborder les changements climatiques ainsi que certains aspects des droits de l’homme et du droit international.
En ce qui concerne les principaux problèmes que posent les relations UE/États-Unis à l’heure actuelle, il est normal de commencer par les efforts multilatéraux que nous déployons dans l’océan Indien. La récente tragédie humaine a clairement démontré que seule une coopération internationale efficace en temps de crise peut aboutir à une réussite. L’aide offerte par l’Union européenne et les États-Unis a été capitale et notre collaboration constitue un bon exemple de l’efficacité du multilatéralisme. Nous voulons continuer à privilégier un multilatéralisme efficace grâce à une étroite collaboration avec les États-Unis sur des questions telles que la réforme des Nations unies et les changements climatiques.
En ce qui concerne l’un des principaux points de litige entre l'Union européenne et les États-Unis, mon collègue, M. Mandelson, a annoncé hier que l’Union européenne et les États-Unis s’étaient mis d’accord sur l’ouverture de négociations relatives aux subventions allouées au secteur de l’aviation civile. Ces négociations, qui dureront trois mois, visent à supprimer les subventions et à établir une concurrence loyale, basée sur l’économie de marché, entre Boeing et Airbus. Grâce à cet accord, l’Union européenne et les États-Unis ont confirmé leur volonté de résoudre le différend qui a surgi entre eux à propos de la vente de gros avions civils et de consacrer du temps et des ressources à cette fin par la voie de la négociation plutôt qu’en poursuivant leur différend dans les instances de l’OMC. Il s’agit là de progrès importants bien que ce ne soit que le début d’un processus et non la fin. Il reste encore beaucoup à faire. La Commission entend travailler étroitement avec les États membres et avec Airbus ainsi qu’avec le représentant américain pour le commerce dans le but d’aboutir à un résultat final qui maintienne la compétitivité de l’Europe dans cet important secteur.
À propos des problèmes régionaux, je voudrais relever trois domaines qui bénéficient d’une priorité commune. En premier lieu, nous devons redoubler d’efforts en faveur de la paix au Moyen-Orient maintenant qu’une nouvelle direction palestinienne a été élue. Nous devons absolument, par l’intermédiaire du Quartette, profiter du dynamisme qui anime les parties pour garantir une application totale de la feuille de route dans les plus brefs délais.
En deuxième lieu, nous devons poursuivre notre collaboration en vue d’aider l’Irak à se diriger sur la voie de la démocratie, de la paix, de la prospérité et de la stabilité. Troisièmement, nous partageons l’objectif consistant à empêcher l’Iran de développer son potentiel d’armes nucléaires et nous devons veiller - tant les États-Unis que l’UE - à ce que l’Iran applique intégralement l’accord de Paris."@fr8
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the United Nations and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@hu11
".
Signor Presidente, vorrei innanzi tutto porgervi le scuse del Commissario Ferrero-Waldner. La collega è molto dispiaciuta di non poter partecipare al dibattito. Tuttavia, il motivo della sua assenza ha a che fare con la discussione odierna. Il Commissario avrebbe dovuto partecipare al dibattito come originariamente previsto, ma ora si trova in viaggio per Washington per incontrarsi con membri dell’amministrazione americana attuale e futura, tra cui il Segretario di Stato Colin Powell, il futuro Segretario di Stato Condoleezza Rice e il futuro Consigliere per la sicurezza nazionale Stephen Hadley. Il Commissario Ferrero-Waldner renderà noto l’esito della propria visita alla commissione per gli affari esteri il 25 gennaio 2005.
Sicuramente molti di voi pensano che potremmo fare di più e lavorare meglio insieme. La Commissione è dello stesso parere. Affinché la nostra cooperazione con gli Stati Uniti continui a svilupparsi con successo, dobbiamo essere uniti, coerenti, efficaci e pragmatici. E’ già stato compiuto un lavoro importante per rinvigorire i nostri legami. La Commissione sta valutando i contributi apportati alla discussione dalle parti interessate sul modo di rafforzare il partenariato economico UE-USA e proporrà una strategia, costituita da tappe concrete, prima del prossimo vertice tra Unione europea e Stati Uniti, che si svolgerà più in là nel corso dell’anno.
Stiamo inoltre riesaminando il quadro istituzionale delle nostre relazioni. La Commissione presenterà a Parlamento e Consiglio una comunicazione sul quadro delle relazioni e sul partenariato economico in primavera, prima del vertice UE-USA.
Il Parlamento europeo ha un importante ruolo da svolgere nel promuovere i legami tra Unione europea e Stati Uniti. Abbiamo ascoltato attentamente i vostri pareri in ambiti quali la rete della politica transatlantica, e siamo ansiosi di intavolare un dialogo costruttivo con voi sul futuro del partenariato transatlantico.
Il Parlamento europeo è per noi un importante alleato nel garantire la prosperità e il rafforzamento di questo partenariato nei prossimi anni. Siamo convinti che la promozione del dialogo tra voi e il Congresso degli Stati Uniti sarà fondamentale per costruire una buona base per le nostre relazioni bilaterali.
Infine, mi preme sottolineare che la Commissione attribuisce grande importanza alla visita che il Presidente Bush effettuerà a Bruxelles il 22 febbraio. Riteniamo che si tratti di un’importante occasione per infondere nuovo vigore al nostro partenariato e definire priorità e missioni comuni. Faremo tutto il possibile affinché questa visita si riveli un successo e confermi quelli che consideriamo già come segnali favorevoli di una relazione in fase di miglioramento.
La Commissione è lieta di avere l’opportunità di discutere con voi delle relazioni transatlantiche all’inizio di questa legislatura. Nei prossimi mesi la revisione dello stato in cui versano le nostre relazioni con gli Stati Uniti avrà un’elevata priorità nella nostra agenda politica, e a ragione, poiché il suo esito influirà in maniera notevole sugli sviluppi delle relazioni transatlantiche negli anni futuri. Il dibattito odierno è al contempo tempestivo e opportuno.
Vorrei subito affermare due verità semplici e inconfutabili. Innanzi tutto, le relazioni UE-USA sono davvero uniche e insostituibili. In secondo luogo, il bilancio delle relazioni transatlantiche è fondamentalmente positivo.
Sul versante economico, intratteniamo le più vaste relazioni al mondo nell’ambito del commercio e degli investimenti, con importi del valore commerciale di 600 miliardi di euro nel 2003 e investimenti pari a 1 miliardo e mezzo di euro nel 2002. Questi investimenti hanno creato, direttamente o indirettamente, circa 12 milioni di posti di lavoro su entrambi i lati dell’Atlantico. Le nostre relazioni, però, vanno ben oltre il campo economico, nonostante i servizi di alcuni mezzi di comunicazione continuino a concentrarsi esclusivamente sulle passate divergenze a proposito dell’Iraq. Stiamo collaborando con notevole successo in luoghi come i Balcani, l’Afghanistan e l’Ucraina. Detto questo, è evidente che le relazioni tra Unione europea e Stati Uniti devono adeguarsi al mutevole ambiente della sicurezza e alle mutevoli priorità globali. Devono altresì adattarsi ai cambiamenti all’interno dell’Unione europea. Siamo convinti che, rafforzando la politica estera dell’Unione europea allargata, si rafforzeranno anche la portata e l’intensità delle nostre relazioni con gli Stati Uniti.
L’Unione europea e gli Stati Uniti si fondano essenzialmente sugli stessi principi e valori: rispetto dello Stato di diritto, democrazia, diritti umani e ovviamente le economie del libero mercato. Condividiamo anche molti interessi comuni, come la lotta al terrorismo, la promozione di soluzioni ai conflitti regionali, i rapporti con i paesi terzi, il miglioramento delle relazioni economiche transatlantiche, la conclusione del ciclo negoziale di Doha e la creazione di condizioni di prosperità a livello globale. In molti casi, per realizzare tali obiettivi seguiamo la stessa strategia. In altri, pur avendo i medesimi obiettivi, ne affrontiamo la realizzazione con approcci diversi. Vi sono anche questioni su cui le nostre posizioni sono fondamentalmente diverse, ad esempio sul modo di affrontare il cambiamento climatico e su alcuni aspetti relativi ai diritti umani e al diritto internazionale.
Esaminando oggi i punti fondamentali su cui s’incentrano le relazioni tra Unione europea e Stati Uniti, è naturale iniziare dai nostri sforzi multilaterali nell’Oceano Indiano. La recente tragedia umana ha chiaramente dimostrato che, in tempi di crisi, è solo l’effettiva cooperazione internazionale a rivelarsi vincente. L’assistenza prestata da Unione europea e Stati Uniti è stata fondamentale e insieme abbiamo fornito un buon esempio di efficace multilateralismo. Vogliamo continuare a dare preferenza a un multilateralismo efficace lavorando a stretto contatto con gli Stati Uniti su questioni quali la riforma delle Nazioni Unite e il cambiamento climatico.
Passando a uno dei più significativi punti controversi tra l’Unione europea e gli Stati Uniti, il collega Mandelson ha annunciato ieri che l’Unione europea e gli Stati Uniti sono giunti a un accordo per l’avvio di negoziati sulle sovvenzioni nel settore della costruzione aeronautica civile. L’obiettivo di tali negoziati, che dureranno tre mesi, è eliminare le sovvenzioni e instaurare una concorrenza di mercato equa tra
e
. Con questo accordo, l’Unione europea e gli Stati Uniti hanno confermato la volontà di risolvere la controversia sorta tra loro in merito al commercio di grandi aeromobili civili, e di dedicare tempo e risorse a farlo per via negoziale, anziché portare avanti la controversia attraverso i canali dell’OMC. Questo è un passo significativo. Tuttavia, si tratta dell’inizio di un processo e non di una conclusione. Resta molto da fare. La Commissione intende lavorare a stretto contatto con gli Stati membri e
nonché con i rappresentanti commerciali degli Stati Uniti, per giungere a una soluzione definitiva che mantenga la competitività dell’Europa in questo importante settore.
Quanto alle questioni di carattere regionale, vorrei evidenziare tre aree che rappresentano una priorità comune. Innanzi tutto, dobbiamo raddoppiare gli sforzi per portare la pace in Medio Oriente ora che è stata eletta una nuova classe dirigente palestinese. E’ fondamentale che noi, tramite il Quartetto, sfruttiamo il positivo slancio attualmente esistente tra le parti per fare in modo che la
venga pienamente attuata senza ritardi.
In secondo luogo, dobbiamo continuare a collaborare per aiutare l’Iraq a imboccare la strada della democrazia, della pace, della prosperità e della stabilità. In terzo luogo, condividiamo l’obiettivo di impedire all’Iran di sviluppare le proprie capacità nucleari e dobbiamo fare entrambi del nostro meglio affinché questo paese attui appieno l’accordo di Parigi."@it12
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the United Nations and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@lt14
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the United Nations and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@lv13
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the United Nations and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@mt15
".
Mijnheer de Voorzitter, allereerst wil ik de verontschuldigingen van commissaris Ferrero-Waldner overbrengen. Het spijt haar heel erg dat zij dit debat niet kan bijwonen. De reden dat zij niet hier is, is echter relevant voor dit debat. Zij zou deelnemen aan uw debat zoals het aanvankelijk stond gepland, maar is nu op weg naar Washington voor besprekingen met de huidige en toekomstige Amerikaanse regering, inclusief de minister van Buitenlandse Zaken, Colin Powell, de toekomstige minister van Buitenlandse Zaken, Condoleezza Rice, en de toekomstige nationale veiligheidsadviseur, Stephen Hadley. Mevrouw Ferrero-Waldner zal de Commissie buitenlandse zaken op 25 januari 2005 informeren over haar bezoek.
Ongetwijfeld zullen velen van u het gevoel hebben dat we meer zouden kunnen doen en beter zouden kunnen samenwerken. De Commissie deelt dit gevoel. Wil onze samenwerking met de VS zich succesvol blijven ontwikkelen, dan moeten we eensgezind, consistent, effectief en pragmatisch zijn. Er wordt al belangrijk werk verricht om onze banden opnieuw te inspireren. De Commissie beoordeelt momenteel de bijdragen die de belanghebbenden hebben geleverd aan de discussie over de manier waarop het economisch partnerschap van de EU en VS kan worden verbeterd, en we zullen tegen de tijd van de volgende EU-VS-Top later dit jaar een strategie met concrete stappen voorstellen.
We onderwerpen ook het institutioneel kader van onze betrekkingen aan een kritische blik. De Commissie zal het Parlement en de Raad in het voorjaar, voorafgaand aan de EU-VS-Top, een mededeling toezenden over zowel het kader voor de betrekkingen als het economisch partnerschap.
Het Europees Parlement heeft een belangrijke rol te spelen in de bevordering van de banden tussen de EU en de VS. We luisteren aandachtig naar uw standpunten binnen kaders zoals het transatlantische beleidsnetwerk, en we kijken uit naar een algemene constructieve dialoog met u over de toekomst van het transatlantisch partnerschap.
U bent een belangrijke bondgenoot voor ons in het bewerkstelligen dat dit partnerschap de komende jaren floreert en sterker wordt. We zijn ervan overtuigd dat een verdere dialoog tussen u en het Amerikaanse Congres essentieel is om een goede basis te leggen voor onze bilaterale betrekkingen.
Tot slot wil ik onderstrepen dat de Commissie veel waarde hecht aan het bezoek van president Bush op 22 februari aan Brussel. We zien dit bezoek als een belangrijke kans om ons partnerschap te revitaliseren en gemeenschappelijke prioriteiten en missies vast te stellen. We zullen alles doen dat in ons vermogen ligt, om te bewerkstelligen dat dit bezoek een succes wordt en dat het bevestigt wat we nu al zien als veelbelovende tekenen van een verbeterende relatie.
De Commissie verwelkomt de kans om zo vroeg in de zittingsperiode van dit Parlement de transatlantische betrekkingen met u te bespreken. Een kritische beoordeling van de stand van zaken van onze betrekkingen met de Verenigde Staten zal hoog op onze politieke agenda voor de komende paar maanden staan, en om goede redenen, want de uitkomst zal grote invloed hebben op de ontwikkelingen in de transatlantische betrekkingen in de komende jaren. Dit debat vandaag is zowel op tijd als welkom.
Ik wil eerst twee eenvoudige, maar onweerlegbare feiten noemen. In de eerste plaats zijn de betrekkingen tussen de EU en de VS echt uniek en onvervangbaar. In de tweede plaats is de balans van de transatlantische betrekkingen in de grond positief.
In economisch opzicht hebben we de grootste handels- en investeringsrelatie in de wereld, met een handel ter waarde van 600 miljard euro in 2003 en een investeringenportefeuille die is getaxeerd op 1 500 miljard euro in 2002. Deze investeringen hebben, direct of indirect, circa twaalf miljoen banen geschapen aan beide zijden van de Atlantische Oceaan. Maar onze betrekkingen strekken zich uit tot ver buiten het terrein van de economie, zelfs al blijven bepaalde mediaverslagen zich uitsluitend richten op de voorbije verdeeldheid over Irak. We werken met opmerkelijk succes samen op plaatsen zoals de Balkan, Afghanistan en Oekraïne. Dat gezegd zijnde, is het duidelijk dat de relatie tussen de EU en de VS zich moet aanpassen aan de veranderende veiligheidsomgeving en aan veranderende mondiale prioriteiten. De relatie moet zich ook aanpassen aan veranderingen binnen de Europese Unie. We zijn ervan overtuigd dat naarmate het buitenlands beleid van de uitgebreide EU sterker wordt, ook het terrein en de intensiteit van onze betrekkingen met de Verenigde Staten groter zullen worden.
In wezen zijn de Europese Unie en de Verenigde Staten op dezelfde beginselen en waarden gebaseerd: respect voor het recht, democratie, mensenrechten en natuurlijk vrijemarkteconomieën. We hebben ook veel gemeenschappelijke belangen, zoals de strijd tegen het terrorisme, de bevordering van oplossingen voor regionale conflicten, het omgaan met derde landen, de verbetering van de transatlantische economische betrekkingen, de afronding van de WTO-ronde van Doha en het scheppen van wereldwijde welvaart. In veel gevallen hebben we dezelfde strategie voor de tenuitvoerlegging van deze doelen. In andere gevallen hebben we weliswaar dezelfde doelen, maar hanteren we een verschillende aanpak voor de tenuitvoerlegging. Er zijn ook kwesties waarover onze standpunten fundamenteel verschillen, zoals de aanpak van de klimaatverandering en bepaalde aspecten van de mensenrechten en het internationaal recht.
Wanneer we naar de belangrijkste kwesties tussen de EU en de VS van dit moment kijken, is het niet meer dan normaal te beginnen met onze multilaterale inspanningen in de Indische Oceaan. De recente menselijke tragedie heeft duidelijk aangetoond dat in tijden van crisis alleen effectieve internationale samenwerking kan zegevieren. De bijstand van de EU en de Verenigde Staten is van wezenlijk belang, en samen hebben we een goed voorbeeld gegeven van effectief multilateralisme. We willen deze voorkeur voor effectief multilateralisme bestendigen door nauw samen te werken met de Verenigde Staten in zaken zoals de hervorming van de Verenigde Naties en klimaatverandering.
Ik kom nu op een van de belangrijkste geschilpunten tussen de Europese Unie en de Verenigde Staten. Mijn collega de heer Mandelson heeft gisteren bekendgemaakt dat de EU en de Verenigde Staten overeenstemming hebben bereikt over de voorwaarden voor het starten van onderhandelingen over subsidies die de burgerluchtvaartsector raken. De doelstelling van deze onderhandelingen, die drie maanden zullen duren, is de subsidies af te schaffen en eerlijke, marktgerichte concurrentie tot stand te brengen tussen Boeing en Airbus. Met deze overeenstemming hebben de EU en VS hun bereidheid bevestigd het tussen hen ontstane geschil over de handel in grote vliegtuigen voor de burgerluchtvaart, op te lossen en daar tijd en middelen in te steken door te onderhandelen, in plaats van het geschil uit te vechten via de kanalen van de WTO. Dit is een belangrijke stap. Het is echter het begin van een proces en geen oplossing. Er moet nog veel werk worden verricht. De Commissie is van plan om nauw samen te werken met de lidstaten en Airbus, alsmede met de Amerikaanse handelsvertegenwoordiger, teneinde tot een eindresultaat te komen dat het concurrentievermogen van Europa in deze belangrijke sector in stand houdt.
Wat betreft regionale aangelegenheden, wil ik drie gebieden van gemeenschappelijke prioriteit naar voren halen. Op de eerste plaats moeten we onze inspanningen om vrede te brengen in het Midden-Oosten verdubbelen nu er een nieuw Palestijns leiderschap is gekozen. Het is cruciaal dat we via het kwartet het positieve moment onder de partijen benutten om de volledige tenuitvoerlegging van de routekaart zonder verdere vertraging te bewerkstelligen.
Op de tweede plaats moeten we blijven samenwerken om Irak op de kaart van democratie, vrede, welvaart en stabiliteit te helpen zetten. Op de derde plaats hebben we beide de doelstelling te voorkomen dat Iran mogelijkheden tot het bouwen van kernwapens ontwikkelt, en we moeten allebei onze best doen om te verzekeren dat Iran het Akkoord van Parijs volledig uitvoert."@nl3
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the United Nations and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@pl16
"Senhor Presidente, antes de mais, gostaria de apresentar as desculpas da Comissária Ferrero-Waldner, que lamenta não poder estar presente neste debate. No entanto, a razão por que não está aqui tem a ver com o assunto de hoje: a Comissária queria participar no debate como inicialmente previsto, mas encontra-se a caminho de Washington, onde se reunirá com a actual e a futura Administração americana, incluindo o Secretário de Estado Colin Powell, a futura Secretária de Estado Condoleezza Rice e o futuro Conselheiro Nacional de Segurança, Stephen Hadley. A Comissária Ferrero-Waldner prestará contas da sua visita perante a Comissão dos Assuntos Externos no dia 25 de Janeiro de 2005.
Muitos de vós sentem, decerto, que podíamos fazer mais e trabalhar melhor em conjunto. A Comissão também pensa assim. Para que a nossa cooperação com os EUA possa continuar a desenvolver-se com êxito temos de nos mostrar unidos, coerentes, eficazes e pragmáticos. Já estamos a desenvolver um trabalho importante para reforçar os laços que nos ligam. A Comissão está a avaliar os contributos trazidos à discussão pelos participantes quanto à melhor forma de reforçar a parceria económica UE-EUA e proporemos uma estratégia, com medidas concretas, por ocasião da próxima Cimeira UE-EUA, no final deste ano.
Estamos, do mesmo modo, a reavaliar o enquadramento institucional das nossas relações. A Comissão apresentará ao Parlamento e ao Conselho, na Primavera, antes da Cimeira UE-EUA, uma comunicação sobre o enquadramento para as relações e a parceria económica.
O Parlamento Europeu tem um importante papel a desempenhar no fortalecimento dos laços UE-EUA. Escutámos atentamente as vossas opiniões em âmbitos como a rede de políticas transatlântica e aguardamos com expectativa a ocasião de trocar, com o Parlamento, um diálogo construtivo sobre o futuro da parceria transatlântica.
O Parlamento é um aliado de peso para nós, ao garantir que esta parceria cresce e se reforça nos próximos anos. Estamos convencidos de que um diálogo aprofundado entre a vossa instituição e o Congresso dos Estados Unidos será essencial para consolidar a base das nossas relações bilaterais.
Finalmente, seja-me permitido sublinhar que a Comissão confere grande importância à visita do Presidente Bush a Bruxelas, no próximo dia 22 de Fevereiro. Consideramo-la uma oportunidade única para revitalizar a nossa parceria e definir prioridades e missões comuns. Faremos tudo o que estiver ao nosso alcance para garantir que essa visita é coroada de êxito e que confirma aquilo que interpretamos como sinais auspiciosos de uma relação frutífera.
A Comissão acolhe com satisfação a oportunidade de discutir as relações transatlânticas com o Parlamento logo no início desta legislatura. Reanalisar o estado das nossas relações com os Estados Unidos será uma das nossas grandes preocupações nos próximos meses, e muito justamente, já que daí dependerá em grande parte a evolução das relações transatlânticas nos próximos anos. O debate de hoje é oportuno e bem-vindo.
Começaria por observar dois factos, simples e irrefutáveis. Primeiro, as relações UE-EUA são verdadeiramente únicas e insubstituíveis. Segundo, o balanço da relação transatlântica é, basicamente, positivo.
Do ponto de vista económico, temos a maior relação comercial e de investimento a nível mundial, com números que ascendem, para o comércio, ao equivalente a 600 mil milhões de euros em 2003 e uma carteira de investimentos avaliada em 1500 mil milhões de euros em 2002. Tais investimentos criaram, directa ou indirectamente, perto de 12 milhões de empregos dos dois lados do Atlântico. Mas as nossas relações vão muito além da esfera económica, mesmo se alguns meios de comunicação continuam a dar ênfase apenas às divergências do passado sobre o Iraque. Estamos a trabalhar juntos, com bastante sucesso, em locais como os Balcãs, o Afeganistão ou a Ucrânia. Dito isto, é óbvio que a relação UE-EUA tem de adaptar-se às modificações no ambiente de segurança e nas prioridades globais. Tem de adaptar-se, do mesmo modo, a modificações dentro da União Europeia. Estamos convictos de que, à medida que a política externa da UE alargada se tornar mais forte, também o âmbito e intensidade das nossas relações com os Estados Unidos se tornarão mais fortes.
Essencialmente, a União Europeia e os Estados Unidos baseiam-se nos mesmos princípios e valores: respeito pelo primado do direito, democracia, direitos humanos e, claro, economias de mercado livres. Partilhamos, ainda, muitos interesses comuns, como a luta contra o terrorismo, a promoção de soluções para os conflitos regionais, relações com os países terceiros, melhoria das relações económicas transatlânticas, conclusão da ronda de Doha da OMC e criação de prosperidade global. Em muitos casos, partilhamos a mesma estratégia para atingir esses objectivos. Noutros casos, embora os nossos objectivos sejam comuns, as nossas estratégias para os concretizar diferem. Há, ainda, assuntos sobre os quais as nossas opiniões são, fundamentalmente, divergentes, tais como a forma de lidar com as alterações climáticas e alguns aspectos dos direitos humanos e do direito internacional.
Olhando para as principais questões que ocupam neste momento a UE-EUA, será natural que comecemos pelos nossos esforços multilaterais no Oceano Índico. A recente tragédia humana mostrou claramente que, em tempos de crise, apenas uma verdadeira cooperação internacional pode ter lugar. O apoio da UE e dos EUA foi fundamental e, juntos, demos um bom exemplo de multilateralismo eficaz. Pretendemos manter esta preferência por um multilateralismo eficaz trabalhando muito de perto com os Estados Unidos em questões como a reforma das Nações Unidas e as alterações climáticas.
Passando a um dos mais importantes domínios onde tem havido discórdia entre a União Europeia e os Estados Unidos, o meu colega Peter Mandelson comunicou ontem que a UE e os Estados Unidos chegaram a acordo quanto às bases para lançar as negociações sobre subsídios ao sector da aviação civil. O objectivo dessas negociações, que terão a duração de três meses, é eliminar os subsídios e estabelecer uma concorrência leal e baseada no mercado entre a Boeing e a Airbus. Com este acordo, a UE e os EUA confirmaram a sua vontade de solucionar a disputa que surgiu em relação à aviação comercial envolvendo aeronaves civis de grande porte e de dedicar tempo e recursos a negociar para atingir esse objectivo, em lugar de prosseguir os trâmites através dos canais da OMC. Este passo é significativo. Marca, porém, o início de um processo, não a sua conclusão. Temos ainda muito trabalho pela frente. É intenção da Comissão trabalhar estreitamente com os Estados-Membros e a Airbus, assim como com o representante comercial dos EUA, para conseguir um resultado final que mantenha a competitividade da Europa em tão importante sector.
Quanto às questões regionais, gostaria de salientar três áreas comuns em termos de prioridade. Primeiro, devemos duplicar os esforços no sentido de estabelecer a paz no Médio Oriente, agora, que há um novo líder palestiniano eleito. É fundamental, por intermédio do Quarteto, aproveitarmos o espírito positivo actualmente existente entre as partes para garantir a plena e célere implementação do roteiro para a paz.
Em segundo lugar, há que continuar a trabalhar em conjunto a fim de ajudar a colocar o Iraque na via para a democracia, a paz, a prosperidade e a estabilidade. Em terceiro lugar, partilhamos o objectivo de impedir o Irão de desenvolver armas nucleares e devíamos envidar todos os esforços para garantir que esse país aplica cabalmente o Acordo de Paris."@pt17
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the United Nations and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@sk18
". Mr President, first of all I would like to convey Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner's apologies. She very much regrets being unable to attend this debate. However, the reason she is not here is pertinent to this debate. She was due to participate in your debate as originally scheduled, but is now on her way to Washington for meetings with the present and future American Administration, including Secretary of State Colin Powell, future Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the future National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner will brief the Committee on Foreign Affairs on this visit on 25 January 2005.
Doubtless many of you have the feeling that we could do more and work better together. The Commission shares that feeling. In order for our cooperation with the US to continue developing successfully we must be united, consistent, effective and pragmatic. Important work is already being done to reinvigorate our ties. The Commission is assessing the contributions made to the discussion by the stakeholders on how to enhance the EU-US economic partnership and we will propose a strategy, with concrete steps, by the time of the next EU-US summit later this year.
We are also reviewing the institutional framework of our relations. The Commission will submit a communication on both the framework for relations and economic partnership to Parliament and the Council in the spring, prior to the EU-US summit.
The European Parliament has an important role to play in furthering EU-US ties. We have been listening carefully to your views within frameworks such as the transatlantic policy network, and we look forward to a general constructive dialogue with you on the future of the transatlantic partnership.
You are an important ally for us in ensuring that this partnership flourishes and grows stronger in the coming years. We are convinced that further dialogue between you and the US Congress will be essential to cement a good basis for our bilateral relations.
Finally, let me underline that the Commission attaches great importance to the visit of President Bush to Brussels on 22 February. We see this as a major opportunity to revitalise our partnership and define common priorities and missions. We will do everything in our power to ensure that the visit is a success and that it confirms what we already see as auspicious signs of an improving relationship.
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to discuss transatlantic relations with you early on in this parliamentary term. Reviewing the state of our relations with the United States will be high on our political agenda over the next few months, and for good reason, since the outcome will have a major influence on developments in the transatlantic relationship over the coming years. This debate today is both timely and welcome.
I would like to start by stating two simple and irrefutable facts. First, EU-US relations are truly unique and irreplaceable. Second, the balance sheet of the transatlantic relationship is fundamentally positive.
On the economic front, we have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world, with figures like EUR 600 billion worth of trade in 2003, and an investment stock measured at EUR 1 500 billion in 2002. These investments have created, directly or indirectly, some 12 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. But our relations extend well beyond the domain of economics, even if some media reports continue to focus solely on past divisions over Iraq. We are working together with remarkable success in places such as the Balkans, Afghanistan and Ukraine. That being said, it is clear that the EU-US relationship must adapt to the changing security environment and to changing global priorities. It must also adapt to changes within the European Union. We are convinced that as the enlarged EU's foreign policy strengthens, so too will the scope and intensity of our relations with the United States.
In essence, the European Union and the United States are both founded on the same principles and values: respect for the rule of law, democracy, human rights and of course free market economies. We also share many common interests, such as the fight against terrorism, promoting solutions to regional conflicts, dealing with third countries, improving transatlantic economic relations, concluding the WTO Doha round, and creating global prosperity. In many cases, we share the same strategy for implementing those goals. In others, although we share the same goals, we have different approaches to implementation. There are also issues on which our views fundamentally differ, such as how to tackle climate change, and on some aspects of human rights and international law.
Looking at the key EU-US issues today, it is natural to begin with our multilateral efforts in the Indian Ocean. The recent human tragedy clearly demonstrated that in times of crisis, only effective international cooperation can prevail. EU and United States assistance has been vital, and together we have set a good example of effective multilateralism. We want to continue this preference for effective multilateralism by working closely with the United States on issues such as United Nations reform and climate change.
Turning to one of the most significant areas of dispute between the United Nations and the United States, my colleague Mr Mandelson announced yesterday that the EU and the United States have agreed terms for launching negotiations on subsidies affecting the civil aircraft sector. The objective of these negotiations, which will last three months, is to eliminate subsidies and to establish fair, market-based competition between Boeing and Airbus. With this agreement, the EU and US have confirmed their willingness to resolve the dispute that has arisen between them over trade in large civil aircraft, and to devote time and resources to doing so by negotiation, rather than pursuing the dispute through WTO channels. This is a significant move. However, it is the beginning of a process and not a conclusion. Much work remains to be done. The Commission intends to work closely with Member States and Airbus, as well as with the US trade representative, to achieve a final result that maintains Europe's competitiveness in this important sector.
On regional issues I would like to highlight three areas of common priority. First, we should redouble our efforts to bring peace to the Middle East now that a new Palestinian leadership has been elected. It is crucial that we, through the Quartet, use the positive momentum among the parties to ensure full implementation of the roadmap without delay.
Second, we must continue working together to help put Iraq on the road to democracy, peace, prosperity and stability. Third, we share the objective of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons capability and we should both do our best to ensure that Iran fully implements the Paris Agreement."@sl19
".
Herr talman! Jag vill först och främst framföra ursäkter från kommissionären Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Hon beklagar verkligen att hon inte kan delta i den här diskussionen. Men skälet till det hänger samman med just denna diskussion. Enligt de ursprungliga planerna skulle hon ha deltagit men är nu på väg till Washington för möten med den nuvarande och framtida amerikanska administrationen, inklusive utrikesminister Colin Powell, den blivande utrikesministern Condoleezza Rice och den blivande rådgivaren i nationella säkerhetsfrågor, Stephen Hadley. Benita Ferrero-Waldner kommer att informera utskottet för utrikesfrågor om sitt besök den 25 januari 2005.
Utan tvivel har många av er en känsla av att vi skulle kunna göra mer och arbeta bättre tillsammans. Kommissionen delar denna känsla. För att vårt samarbete med Förenta staterna skall kunna fortsätta att utvecklas på ett framgångsrikt sätt måste vi stå enade och vara konsekventa, effektiva och pragmatiska. Ett viktigt arbete har redan gjorts för att på nytt stärka banden mellan oss. Kommissionen bedömer för närvarande olika intressenters bidrag till diskussionen om hur det ekonomiska partnerskapet mellan EU och Förenta staterna skall kunna stärkas, och vi kommer att föreslå en strategi med konkreta åtgärder inför nästa toppmöte mellan EU och Förenta staterna senare i år.
Vi ser också över den institutionella ramen för våra förbindelser. Kommissionen kommer före vårens toppmöte mellan EU och Förenta staterna att lägga fram ett meddelande för parlamentet och rådet om ramarna för våra förbindelser och det ekonomiska partnerskapet.
Europaparlamentet spelar en viktig roll för att främja banden mellan EU och Förenta staterna. Vi har noga lyssnat till era åsikter i de frågor som gäller det transatlantiska nätverket för politik, och vi ser fram mot en allmän konstruktiv dialog med er om framtiden för det transatlantiska partnerskapet.
Ni är en viktig allierad för oss när det gäller att få detta partnerskap att blomstra och växa sig starkare under de kommande åren. Vi är övertygade om att en mer långtgående dialog mellan er och Förenta staternas kongress är avgörande för att stärka en god grund för våra bilaterala förbindelser.
Låt mig slutligen understryka att kommissionen fäster stor vikt vid president Bushs besök i Bryssel den 22 februari. Vi ser detta som ett viktigt tillfälle att ge partnerskapet förnyad kraft och fastställa gemensamma prioriteringar och uppgifter. Vi kommer att göra allt som står i vår makt för att se till att detta besök blir en framgång och att det blir en bekräftelse på det vi redan ser som lovande tecken på förbättrade förbindelser.
Kommissionen välkomnar tillfället att diskutera de transatlantiska förbindelserna med er på ett tidigt stadium under denna valperiod. En översyn av våra förbindelser med Förenta staterna står högt upp på vår politiska dagordning under de närmaste månaderna, och detta på goda grunder, eftersom utfallet kommer att ha stor betydelse för utvecklingen av de transatlantiska förbindelserna under de kommande åren. Diskussionen här i dag kommer därför lägligt.
Jag skulle vilja börja med att ta upp två klara och obestridliga fakta. För det första är förbindelserna mellan EU och Förenta staterna faktiskt unika och oersättliga. För det andra är balansräkningen när det gäller dessa förbindelser i grunden positiv.
Ekonomiskt sett har vi det största handels- och investeringsutbytet i världen, med siffror på 600 miljarder euro i handelsutbyte under 2003 och investeringar på 1 500 miljarder euro under 2002. Dessa investeringar har direkt eller indirekt bidragit till att skapa ca 12 miljoner arbetstillfällen på båda sidor av Atlanten. Men förbindelserna mellan oss omfattar mycket mer än det rent ekonomiska området, även om man i viss medierapportering fortfarande enbart fokuserar på tidigare meningsskiljaktigheter i fråga om Irak. Vi samarbetar med utomordentlig framgång t.ex. på Balkan, i Afghanistan och i Ukraina. Mot denna bakgrund står det klart att förbindelserna mellan EU och Förenta staterna måste anpassas till säkerhetssituationen och de föränderliga globala prioriteringarna. De måste också anpassas till förändringarna inom EU. Vi är övertygade om att stärkandet av EU:s utrikespolitik också kommer att öka och intensifiera våra förbindelser med Förenta staterna.
EU och Förenta staterna är i väsentliga stycken grundade på samma principer och värderingar: respekt för rättsstatsprincipen, demokratin, de mänskliga rättigheterna och naturligtvis den fria marknadsekonomin. Vi delar också många gemensamma intressen såsom kampen mot terrorism, främjandet av lösningar på regionala konflikter, förbindelserna med tredjeländer, främjandet av transatlantiska ekonomiska förbindelser, fullföljandet av WTO:s Doha-runda och skapandet av välstånd i hela världen. I många fall har vi samma strategi när det gäller att uppnå dessa mål. I andra fall har vi, trots att vi har samma målsättningar, olika sätt att ta itu med frågorna. Det finns också områden där våra uppfattningar skiljer sig diametralt åt, t.ex. hur klimatfrågorna bör hanteras och vissa aspekter av mänskliga rättigheter och internationell rätt.
När det gäller de viktigaste frågorna för EU och Förenta staterna i dag är det naturligt att börja med att ta upp våra multilaterala insatser i Indiska oceanen. Den mänskliga tragedi som nyligen inträffat har tydligt visat att endast ett effektivt internationellt samarbete är framgångsrikt i krissituationer. Stödet från EU och Förenta staterna har varit av vital betydelse och tillsammans har vi tjänat som ett gott exempel på en effektivt fungerande multilateralism. Vi vill fortsätta detta arbete för en effektiv multilateralism genom att nära samarbeta med Förenta staterna i frågor såsom reformeringen av FN och klimatförändringen.
Jag övergår nu till ett av de viktigaste områden där det finns meningsskiljaktigheter mellan Europeiska unionen och Förenta staterna. Min kollega Peter Mandelson meddelade i går att EU och Förenta staterna kommit överens om villkoren för att inleda förhandlingar om subventioner till den civila flygplanssektorn. Syftet med dessa förhandlingar, som kommer att pågå i tre månader, är att avskaffa subventionerna och införa en rättvis och marknadsbaserad konkurrens mellan Boeing och Airbus. Genom denna överenskommelse har EU och Förenta staterna visat sin vilja att lösa konflikten om handeln med stora civila trafikflygplan och att ägna tid och resurser åt detta i förhandlingar i stället för att fortsätta konflikten inom ramen för WTO. Detta är ett viktigt steg. Men det är bara inledningen på en process och inte något avslutande steg. Mycket arbete återstår. Kommissionen avser att nära samarbeta med medlemsstaterna och Airbus men också med Förenta staternas företrädare på handelsområdet för att komma fram till ett slutligt resultat som gör att Europas konkurrenskraft bibehålls inom denna viktiga sektor.
När det gäller regionala frågor skulle jag framför allt vilja peka ut tre områden som vi gemensamt prioriterar. För det första bör vi fördubbla våra ansträngningar att skapa fred i Mellanöstern när nu ett nytt palestinskt ledarskap utsetts. Det är av avgörande betydelse att vi genom kvartetten (EU, FN, Ryssland och Förenta staterna) tar till vara den positiva kraft som nu finns hos parterna för att försäkra oss om att färdplanen utan dröjsmål genomförs fullt ut.
För det andra måste vi fortsätta vårt gemensamma arbete med att hjälpa Irak att förverkliga demokrati, fred, välstånd och stabilitet. För det tredje har vi samma målsättning när det gäller att förhindra Iran från att utveckla kärnvapenkapacitet och vi bör båda göra vårt bästa för att se till att Iran fullt ut följer Parisöverenskommelsen."@sv21
|
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
"Airbus"12
"Boeing"12
"Commission"5,19,15,1,18,14,16,11,13,4
"EN"10
"Potočnik,"5,19,15,1,18,14,16,11,10,13,4
|
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples