EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR UPGRADED TRANSATLANTIC TIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000453 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/ERA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL EUN SUBJECT: EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS FOR UPGRADED TRANSATLANTIC TIES 1.(U) SUMMARY. The European Parliament overwhelmingly adopted on March 25, in a non-binding resolution, a report on "The State of Transatlantic Relations in the Aftermath of the U.S. Elections." The report calls for a new institutional architecture to the transatlantic partnership, including a Political Council and a Transatlantic Assembly, as well as reinforcing existing channels, such as the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC). MEPs also want to increase cooperation in tackling global challenges, such as the financial crisis and climate change, and regional issues, including Russia and the Middle East. They call on EU member-states to help the U.S. in re-settling Guantanamo detainees and call on the U.S. to end the policy of extraordinary renditions and to accede to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Finally, MEPs also reiterated their invitation to President Obama to address the Parliament in April. END SUMMARY A NEW INSTITUTIONAL ARCHITECTURE ¶2. (U) The State of Transatlantic Relations in the Aftermath of the U.S. Elections was drafted by Francisco Jose Millan Mon (EPP-ED, Spain) and adopted by the European Parliament (EP) on March 25, with 503 votes in favor, 51 against (mainly the extreme right and extreme left) and 10 abstentions. It recommends replacing the New Transatlantic Agenda (NTA-1995) with a new transatlantic partnership agreement. More specifically, it calls for: -- increasing the number of U.S.-EU summits to two per year; -- creating a Transatlantic Political Council to coordinate foreign and security policy, co-chaired by the High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission and by the Secretary of State, meeting at least every three months; -- upgrading the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC) to include dialogue on macroeconomics and monetary policy, energy and climate change, and on social issues with trade unions, with a final goal of an integrated transatlantic market by 2015; -- upgrading the existing Transatlantic Legislative Dialogue into a Transatlantic Assembly, and opening reciprocal legislative liaison offices in Brussels and Washington; -- increasing transatlantic exchanges in culture, science and education. TACKLING GLOBAL AND REGIONAL ISSUES ¶3. (U) On global and regional issues, the resolution calls for joint action on UN reform, addressing the financial and economic crisis, climate change, development, and energy. It also calls for addressing jointly, with regional partners and the UN, problems in the Middle East, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Eastern Europe, and the Caucasus, as well as non-proliferation and disarmament. It welcomes Vice-President Biden's announcement that the U.S. will continue consultations with its NATO allies and Russia on missile defense. It also calls for enhancing mutual trust between the transatlantic partners and Russia, including within the NATO-Russia Council, as well as coordinating approaches towards any reform of the European security architecture. RESPONSE TO THE FINANCIAL CRISIS ¶4. (U) Although the EP report expresses concern that the U.S. stimulus package could inhibit trade, it notes that the legislation was amendd to comply with WTO rules, and reiterates the need for a mutual response to the current crisis rather than protectionist measures. The EP advocates gradually integrating financial markets and notes the need to improve the regulatory framework. It calls for coordination on supervision of large financial institutions (Basel II agreement) and credit rating agencies. EU SHOULD HELP ON GUANTANAMO, U.S. SHOULD JOIN ICC ¶5. (U) The resolution reiterates the EP's call to EU member states to accept Guantanamo detainees if asked by the United States. The U.S. administration is urged to close down any detention center outside the United States, to put an end to the policy of extraordinary rendition, and to ratify and accede to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. ¶6. (U) Comment: The change of tone in this positive report, compared to reports on transatlantic relations in previous years, reflects the EP's high expectations for the new U.S. administration. The EP's call for upgrading the institutional architecture put in place by the 1995 New Transatlantic Agenda was taken up by Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner during the debate on March 24. Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra, also at the debate, agreed that the institutional link should reflect the importance of the relationship, noting that the number of high-level meetings and the upcoming informal Summit in Prague already reflected increased BRUSSELS 00000453 002 OF 002 engagement. MURRAY