News
Releases
Benita Ferrero-Waldner
No.
57/05
May 31, 2005
EU
COMMISSIONER FERRERO-WALDNER VISITS THE US FROM 1-3 JUNE
2005
The
Commissioner for
External Relations and
Neighborhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
will travel to the US for a series of high-level meetings
over three days. This visit centers on the forthcoming
EU-US Ministerial Troika, to be held on 2nd June in Washington.
At this Ministerial the EU will be represented by the
Commissioner, the High Representative,
Javier Solana, and the
Luxembourg
Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn. The US will be represented
by Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. The agenda concentrates
on preparation of the forthcoming
EU-US Summit on 20th
June and a number of key international issues. In Washington,
she will also hold bilateral discussions with the Director
of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, and with Secretary
Rice, and address the US Chamber of Commerce. On 3rd June
in New York, the Commissioner will meet a number of representatives
of the
UN including the Secretary
General (SG), Kofi Annan, and President of the General
Assembly, Jean Ping. At these meetings the Commissioner
will underline the EU’s support for UN reform and discuss
the steps towards a successful UN Summit in September.
On the eve of her visit the Commissioner said: “The
EU and the
US are demonstrating
a shared engagement to spread prosperity and stability
throughout the world – from Lebanon to Darfur and from
the Middle East Peace Process to the International Conference
on Iraq, which we will co host in Brussels in June. Our
complementary activities in all these areas demonstrate
that the visit of President Bush to the EU institutions
last
February has set the
tone for even closer co operation.”
She added: “The Commission is actively involved in
the current discussion on UN reform: In every contact
with partners I am working to help build consensus. The
Summit is a unique opportunity to bring about effective
responses in the field of development, security and human
rights. I look forward to discussing in particular proposals
for a Peace-building Commission and for a Human Rights
Council.”
The EU-US Ministerial Troika meeting on 2nd June, which
will also include US Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security
Michael Jackson, will discuss
Sudan, Lebanon, Israel-Palestine,
Iran, the Broader
Middle East,
Russia and
Eurasia, including Uzbekistan,
India-Pakistan, as well as East
Asia including China.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to review preparations
for the International Conference on
Iraq in June.
The meeting will also be an occasion to discuss the proposals
made in the Commission’s recent Communication “A
Stronger EU-US Partnership and a more Open Market for
the 21st Century.” This contains a wide
range of practical policy proposals for a joint EU-US
strategy to boost economic integration and to strengthen
the broader framework of EU-US relations.
Discussions at the UN on 3rd June will focus on the proposals
for reform advanced by SG Kofi Annan and on the preparation
for the September Summit. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner
will stress the Commission’s support for proposal for
a Peace-building Commission: as a major donor and contributor
to peace-building with global outreach, the EU has an
important contribution to make to its work. The Commission
is a firm supporter of the proposed Human Rights Council,
which has the potential to give the UN Human Rights Machinery
new credibility and efficiency. By deciding upon an impressive
package on development last week, the EU has demonstrated
how committed it is achieve the Millennium Development
Goals. Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will underline the
need for other countries to follow this example.
Further Contact Information
Press and Media Relations
Delegation of the European Commission
2300 M Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037
http://www.eurunion.org/PressRoom
Tel: 202-862-9552
Fax: 202-429-1766
