Posted on 11/05/2004 7:15:16 PM PST by NormsRevenge
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union (news - web sites) urged re-elected President Bush (news - web sites) on Friday to make a fresh start in transatlantic cooperation, but internal EU differences over ties with Washington refused to die down.
"The EU and its member states look forward to working very closely with President Bush and his new administration to combine efforts, including in multilateral institutions, to promote the rule of law and create a just, democratic and secure world," the 25 EU leaders said in a joint statement.
But the future of relations with the United States prompted a fresh outbreak of public sparring by European rivals Britain and France at an EU summit in Brussels.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) rubbed salt into wounds opened by the Iraq (news - web sites) war by saying that some leaders, whom he did not name, were in "a state of denial" about Bush's victory.
In the anti-war camp, President Jacques Chirac said France would not forget its differences with the United States and believed a stronger Europe was the natural response to U.S. foreign policy assertiveness in "an ever more multipolar world."
The phrase revived a smoldering debate in Europe over whether a more integrated EU should act as a counterweight to perceived U.S. unilateralism or as a junior partner to Washington in re-ordering the world.
France favors the former and Britain the latter, but many European governments are uncomfortable about being pressed to choose between the two.
KERRY SYMPATHY
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who chaired the summit, appealed to Bush to realize in his second term that he needed European help to meet global challenges from fighting terrorism, AIDS (news - web sites) and poverty to stabilising the Middle East.
"I really hope that after the election of President Bush ... he will invest in good relations with the European countries. We're looking forward to these close ties with the United States because we have a shared responsibility for worldwide issues," he told a news conference.
Some EU leaders and a large majority of the European public had openly sympathised with defeated Democratic challenger John Kerry (news - web sites), who promised to listen more to America's allies and seek broader international cooperation.
Blair suggested many Europeans had lost touch with reality.
"I think it's pretty obvious if you read the comments that are made by people around Europe over the past few months, there are some people who have not wanted to come to terms with the changes that have happened," he told reporters.
"I'm not going to go and start pointing fingers at people. What I'm really saying is that we've got to move on now. There's a new reality so let's work with that reality," Blair said.
Bush urged allies on Thursday to put aside their differences over Iraq and work with him in the global war against terrorism.
"Whatever our past disagreements, we share a common enemy," he told his first post-election news conference.
One long-time European critic, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, reached out to the re-elected Republic president, telephoning him on Friday to offer personal congratulations and talk about future relations.
Several of the leaders who supported Bush in Iraq, including the Danish and Polish leaders, urged him to reach out to the whole of Europe and make more of an effort in his second term to promote Israeli-Palestinian peace.
America to EU -- "bite me!!!"
We need the EU like we need anal cancer..
America doesn't need EUnechs.
Bush to EU: "You're one of the problems."
Blair suggested many Europeans had lost touch with reality.
"I think it's pretty obvious if you read the comments that are made by people around Europe over the past few months, there are some people who have not wanted to come to terms with the changes that have happened," he told reporters.
We hear ya, Tony. We hear ya.
We might have to fight Europe again!
Bush to EU: You are one of the problems and I'm gonna fix it.
Man, I love FreeRepublic!
BUSH2EUSTFU
As long as old European leaders blame America for their internal economic problems there can never be full cooperation.
I find it rather presumptious that a disorganized collection of bureaucrats constitutes a world power.
I think it is time we cultivate a new relationship with Russia.
Dear Old Europe,
When you fail to fix your problems, and they become our problems, you can help or get out of the way.
Sincerely,
Dubya
So we establish democracy in Iraq, forge a Middle East peace, help establish a state for Palestinians, destroy Iran's nuclear capablity/missiles, settle Syria's hash, strong arm Saudi Arabia into a semblance of democracy, invent cold fusion/alternative cheap earth friendly fuel, find a cure for cancer, halitosis, acne, even make it possible for those paralyzed to get up and walk. Will that make Europe like us? I think not. The root of this profound dislike, hatred, is envy. Europe needs to do some serious self examination, no denial nonsense. Then they need to get to work. Saying they rival the US economically, militarily, whatever, is ludicrous. The emperor has no clothes.
I would prefer making a strong economic relationship with eastern Europe, England, the Pacific Rim and a few middle eastern nations.
Well said!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.