Americans
want to join the Convention
 |
| The Europeans are
urged to do more to reassure Americans that "the union they are
completing will continue to make the United States feel welcome in
Europe" (Photo: EUobserver.com) |
US representatives should have the opportunity to observe
proceedings and debates in the European Convention and members of the American
executive branch ought to be associated with the work of separate European
Councils.
These are some of the wide-ranging ideas presented in a joint declaration by a
group of prominent American politicians and former ministers. The group
includes former US Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, Zbigniew
Brzezinski, former National Security Advisor to the President of the United
States and Alexander M. Haig, former Supreme Allied Commander of Europe.
The group was established and worked under the Centre for Strategic &
International Studies because of concerns over current trends on both sides of
the Atlantic.
"No disagreement should be allowed to disrupt our relations with our
European allies," the declaration, 'Renewing the Transatlantic
Partnership' states.
The Europeans are urged to do more to reassure Americans that "the union
they are completing will continue to make the United States feel welcome in
Europe" and the 18 warn against "Europe's new ability to challenge
the United States".
Finality of Europe should be developed in cooperation with the US
"Rather more should be done to reinforce the perception that the
'finality' of Europe is being developed in cooperation with the United
States," the declaration says.
It is proposed that US representatives should have the opportunity to observe
meetings of the Convention, which is currently drafting a future European
constitutional treaty. Such observers in the Convention should not participate
to influence, "but to hear and to be influenced by their peers'
debate."
Both houses in the US Congress should increase their contacts with the
European Parliament and more direct consultations between the US and the
European Institutional bodies should be established over the next five years.
Even in the Council, where ministers from the EU member states meet to take
decisions, Americans should also have a role. "Members of the US
executive branch could be associated on appropriate issues with the work of
separate European Councils," the declaration suggests.
The rise of anti-American sentiment
NATO still has a role to play as the central pillar of American partnership
with Europe but the gaps between US and European military capabilities are
making the transatlantic defence co-operation more difficult. This is why the
declaration urges the EU to agree "on minimum levels of real annual
growth in defence spending".
Finally the authors are concerned with the rise of anti-American sentiments in
Europe and they warn that in turn anti-Europeanism in the US would raise
additional obstacles to Europe.
The Declaration was endorsed by Madeleine K. Albright, Harold Brown,
Zbigniew Brzezinski, Frank C. Carlucci, Warren Christopher, William S. Cohen,
Robert Dole, Lawrence S. Eagleburger, Stuart E. Eizenstat, Alexander M. Haig
Jr., Lee H. Hamilton, John J. Hamre, Carla A. Hills, Sam Nunn, Paul H.
O'Neill, Charles S. Robb, William V. Roth Jr., and James R. Schlesinger.
The Centre for Strategic & International Studies Europe program is
supported by the German Marshall Fund.
