[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 77 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 77

   Recognizing the 10th anniversary of the New Transatlantic Agenda, 
acknowledging the continued importance of the transatlantic partnership 
between the United States and Europe, and promoting new initiatives to 
                      strengthen that partnership.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 9, 2005

Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia submitted the following resolution; which 
        was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Recognizing the 10th anniversary of the New Transatlantic Agenda, 
acknowledging the continued importance of the transatlantic partnership 
between the United States and Europe, and promoting new initiatives to 
                      strengthen that partnership.

Whereas the United States and the European community are mindful of their common 
        heritage and of their close historical, political, economic, and 
        cultural ties;
Whereas the United States and the European Union (EU) are aware of their shared 
        responsibility, not only to further common interests but also to face 
        transnational challenges affecting the well-being of all;
Whereas for the past 50 years the United States and the European Union have 
        worked together in solidarity and partnership, based on a system of 
        cooperation, communication, negotiation, and dialogue, to strengthen 
        transatlantic security, for the preservation and promotion of peace and 
        freedom, for the development of free and prosperous economies, and for 
        the promotion of human rights;
Whereas in December 1995, in recognition of the importance of the transatlantic 
        political and economic partnership, the United States and the European 
        Union adopted a ``New Transatlantic Agenda'' which established a 
        framework for action to promote peace, stability, democracy, and 
        development around the world, to respond to global challenges, to 
        contribute to the expansion of world trade and closer economic 
        relations, and to broaden and strengthen public support for the 
        partnership;
Whereas as a community of compatible values and converging interests, the 
        transatlantic community since 1995 has continued to strengthen its 
        political partnership through expanding membership in the European Union 
        and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and have integrated 
        more deeply both economically and commercially;
Whereas as a community of action the United States and the European Union, since 
        setting the new agenda, have been able, with some exceptions, to achieve 
        cohesion in many areas essential to our ability to fulfill the many 
        goals we share, such as combating and preventing terrorism, cooperating 
        in the fight against international crime, addressing the proliferation 
        of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and missile technology, 
        reducing global poverty and communicable diseases, and resolving 
        political crises such as those crises in the Balkans and Ukraine and 
        humanitarian tragedies such as the December 2004 tsunami disaster in the 
        Indian Ocean region, where the positive results achieved when a common 
        approach and effective action are developed, have been irrefutable;
Whereas the new impetus to strengthen the transatlantic partnership developed at 
        the United States-European Union Summit held in 2004 in Ireland should 
        be used as the basis for revising and transforming the New Transatlantic 
        Agenda of 1995 into a ``New Transatlantic Partnership of Action'';
Whereas a strategy for renewing and strengthening the transatlantic partnership 
        should consider a new agenda for collaboration with a defined framework, 
        realistic action plans, and which builds on the strengths and 
        capabilities of each partner;
Whereas a political action plan should, along with strategies to address global 
        terrorism and weapons proliferation, include strategies to address the 
        long-term stability of Afghanistan and Iraq, relations with the Arab 
        world, North Korea, and Iran, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
Whereas the security strategies of the United States and the European Union 
        should be more closely coordinated and a security relationship between 
        the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union should be 
        developed;
Whereas the existing transatlantic market place could be further developed 
        through joint policy actions in the areas of financial services, capital 
        markets and regulatory reform, trade, competition policy, and aviation;
Whereas joint efforts could be made to further promote democratic development, 
        the rule of law, respect for human rights, and poverty reduction, and 
        initiatives could be taken to further enhance the goal of finding 
        solutions to diseases and to support the environment;
Whereas a greater involvement of legislators on both sides of the Atlantic is a 
        fundamental element for enhancing the transatlantic partnership, 
        establishing the agenda, and implementing the action plan;
Whereas by acting together the United States Congress and the European 
        Parliament, along with national legislatures of European countries, 
        could help promote stronger political, economic, defense and security 
        cooperation and could help develop solutions to other global challenges; 
        and
Whereas the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue should become more fully active 
        in the transatlantic partnership and an integral part of the 
        consultation and implementation process of the new agenda and strategy: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the 10th anniversary of the New 
        Transatlantic Agenda and acknowledges the role it has played in 
        promoting and strengthening the transatlantic partnership;
            (2) recognizes that both the United States and Europe face 
        new challenges at home and abroad and to deal with these 
        challenges effectively the United States and Europe must 
        strengthen and adapt the transatlantic partnership which has 
        served both so well;
            (3) agrees that over the past ten years, international 
        conditions have changed and that the successes of the New 
        Transatlantic Agenda of 1995 should be built upon by renewing 
        the agenda with a new political and economic framework for 
        cooperation and a new transatlantic partnership agreement which 
        can provide an effective response to our global challenges;
            (4) acknowledges that in order to strengthen the 
        transatlantic partnership there must be a renewed commitment to 
        regular and intensive consultations between the Governments of 
        the United States and those of the European Union; and
            (5) joins with the European Parliament in agreeing to help 
        strengthen the transatlantic partnership by enhancing the 
        dialogue and collaboration between the United States Congress 
        and the European Parliament through the framework of the 
        Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue.
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