IV 108th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 577 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 25, 2004 Mr. Bereuter (for himself, Mr. Wexler, Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Delahunt, and Ms. Lee) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing 50 years of relations between the United States Government and the European Union.

Whereas on May 9, 1950, 6 countries of Europe, committed to promoting a united Europe, founded the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which has evolved into the European Union (EU); Whereas in November 1953 the United States sent its first diplomatic observers to the European Coal and Steel Community; Whereas in 1954 the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community commissioned the United States law firm of Clearly and Gottlieb to open an Information Office in Washington, District of Columbia, thus establishing the first official presence of the precursor to the European Union in the United States; Whereas on November 18, 2003, Secretary of State Colin Powell, while in Brussels, Belgium, dedicating a plaque commemorating 50 years of cooperation between the United States and the European Union stated that the United States embraces the European Union as a global partner for peace and security . . . and that the world’s best hope for meeting [global] challenges still rests, in large part, on a deep, broad, and lasting partnership between Europe and the United States; Whereas although differences of opinion have existed on a broad array of issues over the past 50 years, there remains an important foundation of shared values across the Atlantic which reaffirms that the current strengths and common interests of the United States and the European Union far outweigh the differences; Whereas an effective political partnership between the United States and the European Union has continued to develop over the past 50 years in many areas of vital common interest which has resulted in the United States and European Union consistently and effectively working together for prosperous, stable, and democratic world; Whereas the events of the past several years, including the events of September 11, 2001, have increased the need for forceful and coordinated strategic cooperation between the United States and the European Union on economic, trade, and domestic and foreign security matters; Whereas the economic foundations for the United States-European Union partnership are a central and irreversible reality of the world economy; Whereas to effectively manage the United States-European Union partnership, closer institutional linkages and other mechanisms to facilitate more direct and continuous United States-European Union dialogue are necessary; and Whereas in May 2004, an event commemorating 50 years of relations between the United States and the European Union will take place in Washington, District of Columbia: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)celebrates the 50th anniversary of relations between the United States and the European Union; (2)commends the United States mission to the European Union and the mission of the European Commission to the United States for the professional representation of the interests of the United States and European Union over the past 50 years; (3)recognizes that continued cooperation between the United States and the European Union is essential to resolving international disputes, promoting peace, expanding global economic opportunity, combating global threats, and being prepared to respond to unforeseen events; and (4)encourages enhanced United States-European Union strategic discussion and institutional cooperation, including increased discussions between representatives of the United States Congress and the European Parliament through the Transatlantic Legislator’s Dialogue.