EU Leaders Meet with Speaker Pelosi in Brussels

European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and U.S Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi met in Brussels yesterday to discuss climate change, the Doha trade negotiations, and the extension of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program to all EU Member States.

Praising Speaker Pelosi's role in raising awareness of climate change and pushing for U.S. action to address this global challenge, President Barroso noted the "transatlantic consensus that market-based action must play an important role in tackling climate change." He added, "the EU wants the G8 to take decisive steps towards the launch of a new global agreement to reduce emissions from 2012, with negotiations to start at the UN Climate Change conference in Indonesia in December. A strong message on U.S. action will encourage other large emitters to act."

EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs presented to the visiting U.S. delegation the recent EU energy package, which includes ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the share of renewables in the EU's energy mix. "Climate change and energy security have put a new challenge in our transatlantic relations. Our cooperation is crucial to be successful with addressing these issues," said Commissioner Piebalgs.

President Barroso also noted the need to reach agreement on "an ambitious and balanced Doha deal this year" and the EU's continuing push for extension of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program to all EU Member States so that all EU citizens can visit the U.S. for business or pleasure as easily as U.S. citizens can visit Europe.

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