News Release

No. 39/03
June 20, 2003

EU-US SUMMIT—WASHINGTON, JUNE 25, 2003

Leaders from both sides of the Atlantic will gather at the White House on June 25 for the annual EU-US Summit where issues including Iraq, the Middle East, Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and judicial cooperation, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, EU-US trade relations, hydrogen energy and a new transatlantic open aviation area agreement will be discussed. 

Leading the EU side at the summit are European Commission President

Romano Prodi, Prime Minister Costas Simitis of Greece


as President-in-office of the European Council,
and EU High Representative for CFSP Javier Solana


They are accompanied by Vice-President of the Commission Loyola de Palacio



Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy



and Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou.

 

President Bush will be accompanied by a number of top US Administration officials: Vice President Dick Cheney (or his representative), Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of the Treasury John Snow, Attorney General John Ashcroft, Secretary of Commerce Donald Evans, Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta, Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, US Trade Representative Bob Zoellick, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card and National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. 

This is the third formal EU-US summit meeting for President George W. Bush. The EU-US summits have been in place since 1990. 

Media Availability on June 25: 

The summit starts at 10:35 am with an Oval Office meeting among the principals (President Bush, President Prodi, Prime Minister Simitis and High Representative Solana). 

At 1:20 pm, President Bush with President Prodi and Prime Minister Simitis will give a joint press conference at the White House. A White House press pass or appropriate accreditation is necessary to attend. 

At 2:30 pm, President Prodi and Prime Minister Simitis, accompanied by High Representative Solana and Foreign Minister Papandreou, will give a joint EU press briefing at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Salon III, lower level, 1150 22^nd Street, NW.  

Topics to be Discussed at the Summit:

• Regional Issues
  Including Iraq, the Middle East, Afghanistan and the Balkans.
• Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Counter-Terrorism
  To include terrorist financing, maritime and civil aviation security, the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and Passenger Name Record (PNR). The signing of the EU-US Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA)/Extradition Treaty will take place during a separate ceremony at the US Department of Justice. The Treaty will be signed by Greek Justice Minister Philippos Petsalnikos, representing the EU Council of Justice Ministers, and Attorney General John Ashcroft.
• Trade
  To include compliance with WTO rulings, Cancun Ministerial, GMOs, Positive Economic Agenda and the TABD (Transatlantic Business Dialogue).
• Energy
  Including hydrogen and fuel cells technology.
• Financial Markets
• Galileo

More detailed background information and fact sheets on the above topics will be made available prior to the Summit.

Press Contacts:

Willy Hélin 202-862-9530

Wilfried Schneider 202-862-9523

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