EU looks to bridge gap with US - rethinking their relations with the US after the Iraq war

euractiv.com ^

[chance33_98]

EU looks to bridge gap with US

In short:

The EU's leaders are rethinking their relations with the US after the Iraq war and plan to use the EU-US summit in Washington on 25 June to refocus priorities.

Background: The Iraq war has laid low the EU's transatlantic ties, and the EU summit in Greece has now decided to make an attempt to rethink EU-US relations and to formulate a joint European security policy strategy.

Issues: At the EU-US summit in Washington on 25 June, Europe's leaders will attempt to convince their American counterparts that they too recognise the threats of global terrorism, rogue states and weapons of mass destruction. Agreement on the broad priorities of Europe's new security strategy both within the EU and in a transatlantic context is crucial: following the EU's enlargement in 2004, the EU and the US together will account for about half of the world's total economic output.

In Thessaloniki, the EU's leaders emphasised the need to cooperate with Washington, but they also stressed they should work as equal partners. "The development of the transatlantic relations on an equal footing remains of fundamental importance in every domain not only for the two sides but also for the international community", the summit declaration said.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, drew up a strategy document for the Union which reiterates the Europeans' commitment to NATO and declares that "the transatlantic relationship is irreplaceable". However, the Solana document also states that "none of our relations will be exclusive".

Positions: In a clear signal to Washington, the EU's leaders now focus on shared views rather than particular interests. Up to now, the Union did not have a foreign policy shared by all Member States. The need for such policy had been discussed, but every country wanted to look after its own interests on the world stage.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Solana's strategy "fits in exactly with our approach", including the need in some cases for preventative military action.

Next steps: Mr Solana's draft text is to be developed in coming months with input from the US. The EU-US summit will take place in Washington on 25 June. Mr Solana is expected to present a completed version of the strategy document at an EU summit in Brussels in December 2003.

[Coop]

Positions: In a clear signal to Washington, the EU's leaders now focus on shared views rather than particular interests.

In a clear signal to the EU, upon hearing of this shared view, President Bush yawned.

[GluteusMax]

In Thessaloniki, the EU's leaders emphasised the need to cooperate with Washington, but they also stressed they should work as equal partners.

Riiiight.

[playball0]

Being without USA's nuclear umbrella is a dangerous place for Europe. The Ruskies and the Chinese are still threats not to mention all the wantabes.

Europe is dying demographically. They need to provide us reasons to continue our largesse.

[NCjim]

"none of our relations will be exclusive".

Translation - we will stab you in the back by dealing with your enemies.