SRES178JUN24

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending June 24, 2005

Senate Resolution 178 expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the United States-European Union Summit.

←Click Flag for map and country data, European Union.

BRIEF

The EU (European Union) was established over fifty years ago with the main intention of ironing out differences between the US and European steel makers.

Now trying to establish its’ own constitution as an umbrella organization for European countries, the EU can represent a unified Europe and has done so on many occasions to side with the US on matters of concern in such countries as “Lebanon, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus, and Uzbekistan”, the Resolution preamble said.

Sponsor: Senator Robert F. Bennett (R-UT)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (June 20, 2005)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

S. Res. 178

Whereas over the past 55 years the United States and the European Union have built a strong transatlantic partnership based upon the common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, human rights, security, and economic development;

Whereas working together to promote these values globally will serve the mutual political, economic, and security interests of the United States and the European Union;

Whereas cooperation between the United States and the European Union on global security issues such as terrorism, the Middle East peace process, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, ballistic missile technology, and the nuclear activities of rogue nations is important for promoting international peace and security;

Whereas the common efforts of the United States and the European Union have supported freedom in countries such as Lebanon, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Moldova, Belarus, and Uzbekistan;

Whereas through coordination and cooperation during emergencies such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, the AIDS pandemic in Africa, and the ongoing situation in Darfur, the United States and the European Union have mitigated the effects of humanitarian disasters across the globe;

Whereas economic cooperation such as removing impediments to transatlantic trade and investment, expanding regulatory dialogues and exchanges, integrating capitol markets, and ensuring the safe and secure movement of people and goods across the Atlantic will increase prosperity and strengthen the partnership between the United States and the European Union; and

Whereas although disagreements between the United States and the European Union have existed on a variety of issues, the transatlantic relationship remains strong and continues to improve: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate--

(1) welcomes the leadership of the European Union to the 2005 United States-European Union Summit to be held in Washington, DC, on June 20, 2005;

(2) highlights the importance of the United States and the European Union working together to address global challenges;

(3) recommends--

(A) expanded political dialogue between Congress and the European Parliament; and

(B) that the 2005 United States-European Union Summit focus on both short and long-term measures that will allow for vigorous and active expansion of the transatlantic relationship;

(4) encourages--

(A) the adoption of practical measures to expand the United States-European Union economic relationship by reducing obstacles that inhibit economic integration; and

(B) encourages continued strong and expanded cooperation between Congress and the European Parliament on global security issues.

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