US Commerce Secretary General Gutierrez (Left) &
European Commission Vice President/EU Enterprise & Industry
Commissioner Verheugen
No.
18/05
February 16, 2005
US SECRETARY
OF COMMERCE CARLOS GUTIERREZ MEETS EC VICE-PRESIDENT GÜNTER
VERHEUGEN
US Commerce Secretary Carlos
Gutierrez and EC
Vice-President Günter Verheugen, responsible for Enterprise
and Industry, met today in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss
how to promote economic growth and policies that keep our
economies flexible and innovative. They discussed the importance
of industry, entrepreneurship and the role of the Trans-Atlantic
Business Dialogue (“TABD”) in strengthening EU-US
relations.
"I want to thank Vice President Verheugen for hosting
me on my first international trip as Secretary of Commerce.
We had a constructive conversation today about how best
to create a transatlantic environment that promotes innovation,
competitiveness and economic growth. I was interested in
hearing the Vice President’s views on the Barroso's
Commission's work to advance European growth and competitiveness
under the relaunch of the 'Lisbon
Agenda.' A strong, vibrant Europe is a necessary and
essential partner for the US,” said Secretary Gutierrez.
"I am looking forward to working closely with Secretary
Gutierrez and the new US Administration. We share the view
that governments have to set the right framework so that
industry can create growth and jobs," said Vice
President Verheugen. He added: “By removing barriers
to transatlantic
trade and investment, we will facilitate for our respective
business communities to do so.”
In their meeting, Secretary Gutierrez and Vice President
Verheugen discussed how to use the US-EU relationship to
reinforce our domestic agendas to create growth and jobs.
They stressed the importance of the ongoing review of the
US-EU economic relationship, and contributions made by various
stakeholders. In particular, they applauded the work of
the Trans-Atlantic Business Dialogue (“TABD”) in focusing
governments’ attention on several key issues and committed
their strong support to ensuring that the US and EU governments
respond to the TABD's suggestions.
"I look forward to working closely with Vice President
Verheugen on our joint efforts to advance the barrier-free
transatlantic marketplace, as supported by the TABD. We
hope to have recommendations for joint action to deliver
to Presidents Bush
and Barroso at the next US-EU
Summit this summer in Washington," concluded
Gutierrez.
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