Sommaire: May 31, 2005: Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner visits the US from 1-3 June 2005 (Brussels)
The Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, will travel to the US for a series of high-level meetings over three days. This visit centres 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 and the Deputy Secretary for Homeland and Security, Michael Jackson. 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, 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 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.
For further information on EU's relations with the United States of America:
http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/us/revamping/index.htm
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