EU-US SUMMIT
The White House
Washington, DC
June 25, 2003
EU-USA Summit: Joint
Press Conference: US President George Bush, President of the European
Council Costas Simitis & European Commission President Romano Prodi, White
House
Talks at the EU-US Summit in Washington were described in glowing terms
by the participants – US President George Bush, President of the European
Council Costas Simitis and European Commission President Romano Prodi –
who used terms such as “constructive,” “fruitful” and “excellent.”
Speaking at a joint press conference after the talks, Bush referred to the
“historical and strong ties” between the EU and the USA, while Simitis –
underlining the common will for cooperation – spoke of “the
interdependence of the two poles, which is vitally important for the
global economy.” By way of indication, he referred to the agreement signed
on mutual judicial assistance to combat criminal activity, the joint
statement on the non-dissemination of weapons of mass destruction, the
emphasis placed on the implementation of the road map for peace in the
Middle East, the commencement of cooperation in the area of air travel,
the joint research initiative to produce energy from hydrogen and efforts
for the successful outcome of the Doha trade round, regarding which, Prodi
observed, Community consultations must first be held concerning the reform
of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Acknowledging that the EU and US “do not share absolutely identical
views,” Simitis said that “friendship requires discipline in the handling
of our differences and efforts to seek those areas which unite us.”
Replying to questions, Bush reiterated his steadfast position that
“organisations such as Hamas must be dismantled and the international
community must soon take action in this direction, by cutting off their
funding for example.” On the issue of Iran, Bush noted that “the free
world demands that Iran complies,” while Prodi noted that “the dialogue
with Iran is now deepening.”
Replying to a question on the European perspective of shaping a common
defense, Simitis said that such a development was in the interests of
both sides, adding that it was a great mistake to give a dimension of
“rivalry” to the European initiative. In this respect, Simitis referred to
the precedent of cooperation set by the replacement of NATO forces with
European forces in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM),
which may be repeated some time in the future in Bosnia-Herzegovina. On
this point, Simitis underlined the importance of respect for international
law and UN Security Council resolutions.
