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News Releases
US President George W.
Bush Greets EU German Presidency's German Chancellor
Angela Merkel & European Commission President José
Manuel Barroso, EU/US Summit, Washington, DC, April 30,
2007.
No. 45/07
April 30, 2007
JOINT EU-US STATEMENT FOLLOWING ANNUAL SUMMIT
We, the leaders of the European Union and the United
States of America,
met today in Washington to deepen our
strategic
partnership. This partnership is based on
common values, in particular on the deeply shared
conviction that peace, prosperity and human development
depend upon the protection of individual liberty, human
rights, the rule of law, economic freedom, energy
security, environmental protection and the growth of
strong, democratic societies.
Our partnership has achieved much over the years, and
today we have reviewed our work over the past year. Yet
we continue to face major challenges, at home and
abroad. Consistent with our commitment to work together
to advance our shared values and interests, we have
today:
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Adopted a framework on
transatlantic economic
integration which lays a long-term foundation for
building a stronger and more integrated transatlantic
economy, in particular by fostering cooperation to
reduce regulatory burdens and accelerating work on key
“lighthouse projects” in the areas of
intellectual
property rights,
secure trade,
investment, financial
markets, and
innovation. We also reaffirm our strong
desire to reach a prompt agreement in the
WTO Doha
Development Agenda (DDA) negotiations that is ambitious,
balanced and comprehensive and creates meaningful new
trade flows in agriculture, industrial goods and
services among and between developed and developing
countries;
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Adopted a declaration on
political and security issues,
including commitments to concrete actions to strengthen
liberty, prosperity, security, peace and human rights
and address regional challenges, in particular regarding
Kosovo,
Afghanistan, the
Middle East,
Iraq,
Sudan,
Latin
America, and efforts to combat
terrorism and the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and to
work towards
visa-free travel for all EU and U.S.
citizens by creating conditions by which the Visa Waiver
Program may be expanded;
-
Adopted a joint statement on
energy security and climate
change that underlines our mutual interest in ensuring
secure, affordable, and clean supplies of
energy and
tackling
climate change. We will broaden and reinforce
our activities to improve energy security and reduce
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, while supporting
economic growth;
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Welcomed the signing of a first stage
Air Transport
Agreement which is an historic advance in liberalizing
transatlantic
air traffic. This agreement will bring
real benefits for consumers and airline companies on
both sides of the Atlantic. We reaffirm our commitment
to pursue, as a matter of priority and no later than 60
days after March 30, 2008, negotiations to conclude a
second stage agreement in order to achieve further
liberalization.
For further information please go to:
EU/US Summit:
http://www.eurunion.org/partner/summit/20070430sum.htm
.
Further Contact Information
Press and Public Diplomacy
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
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