“The USA and Europe can look back on a long shared history. We have a lot to thank each other for, and have enormous tasks with a great deal of joint responsibility ahead of us”, said Council President and Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik at today’s summit, in the course of which she met with President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
“Europe and America form a strong and sustainable community of values and interests. We fully realise that we are indispensable partners for each other. A mature partnership now binds us together and enables us to frequently broach subjects on which we hold different views”, stated Plassnik.
The Foreign Minister referred to the positive developments in transatlantic relations over the past year and emphasised the continuous and close cooperation between the EU and the USA, also during the Austrian Presidency: “Today’s summit represents an important moment in our relations, but it is really only the culmination of numerous contacts and broad cooperation. There is no finer example of our cooperation and joint commitment to securing peace, democracy and human rights worldwide than our involvement with key foreign-policy issues, such as Iran, the Middle East Peace Process, the Western Balkans, Sudan, Afghanistan and Belarus.”
Plassnik underlined the European Union’s important contribution to peace, security and development around the globe. “Over the past few decades, Europe has come a long way and is now a more self-confident partner, although we have no reason whatsoever to be complacent or smug. Strong and effective multilateralism is particularly important for us, due not least to our own experience of successful relations with each other. Here, we attach particular importance to a functioning and efficient UN, whose central and supporting role for the common good will remain essential in the future”, said the Foreign Minister.
Plassnik also spoke of the close cooperation at economic, scientific and social level. The minister cited the new education agreement that she signed today together with Secretary of State Rice and Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner. “With the agreement, the financial resources for this joint education project will be almost tripled. Around 6,000 students and teachers will benefit directly. This exchange is making a valued contribution towards mutual understanding and openness. Condoleezza Rice, Benita Ferrero-Waldner and I are particularly keen to bring together and support young people on both sides of the Atlantic”, continued the Foreign Minister.
In a bilateral meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed in detail the situation in the Balkans. “We attach great importance to instilling self-confidence in young people in Serbia, and giving them a clear future perspective, particularly during the difficult phase which the country is going through”, said Plassnik.
In conclusion, the Foreign Minister also referred to the US visa regulations (visa waiver programme), applied differently to EU Member States, which were also discussed during the talks. “We impressed upon our American friends the need for equal treatment for all EU citizens. We wish to see more transparent initial processes, clearer criteria and appreciable interim measures for the new Member States. We trust the USA will be taking steps in this direction in the coming months”, explained Plassnik.
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