109 HRES 873 IH: Recognizing the continued importance of the U.S. House of Representatives 2006-06-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 109th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 873 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 16, 2006 Mrs. Jo Ann Davis of Virginia (for herself, Mr. Engel, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Gallegly, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Oxley, Mr. Kind, Mr. English of Pennsylvania, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Hastings of Florida, and Mr. Issa) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations RESOLUTION Recognizing the continued importance of the transatlantic partnership between the United States and the European Union by expressing support for the success of the forthcoming US-EU Summit in Vienna, Austria, on June 21, 2006.

Whereas the United States and the European Union are aware of their shared responsibility, not only to further common interests, but also to address transnational challenges affecting the well-being of all; Whereas the United States and the European Union continue to work together in partnership, based on a system of cooperation, communication, negotiation, and dialogue to strengthen transatlantic security, for the preservation and promotion of peace and freedom, the development of free and prosperous economies, and the promotion of human rights; Whereas the climate of transatlantic relations continues to improve as evidenced in the recent handling of both global and bilateral issues by government and legislative leaders on both sides of the Atlantic and this improved climate offers genuine opportunities for the United States and the European Union to work even more closely together on a wide range of policy challenges of common concern in the years to come; Whereas, as a community of compatible values and converging interests, the transatlantic community can continue to strengthen its political partnership by continuing to work in close cooperation to achieve shared goals, such as combating and preventing terrorism, cooperating in the fight against international crime, addressing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, reducing global poverty and disease, limiting the results of humanitarian tragedies, and resolving political crises; Whereas the importance of the transatlantic economic partnership was reiterated at the 2005 US-EU Summit in Washington, D.C., with the agreement to enhance transatlantic economic integration and growth through support for further regulatory cooperation, more open capital markets, increased research and technology development, additional procurement opportunities, and further cooperation on services; Whereas the conclusion of the multilateral World Trade Organization Doha Development Agenda continues to be a priority for sustainable global growth to which the United States and the European Union should continue to work closely together in full cooperation; Whereas the agreement at the 2005 US-EU Summit to work together on a comprehensive plan to address energy efficiency and security should be further developed into a sensible transatlantic energy strategy; 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 further developed; Whereas, by acting together, the United States Congress and the European Parliament, along with the national legislatures of European countries, continue to help promote stronger political, economic, and defense and security cooperation, and continue to develop solutions to other global challenges; and Whereas the European Parliament, through its own legislation, has expressed support for transatlantic relations and the US-EU Summit process: Now, therefore, be it:

That the House of Representatives— (1)reaffirms the importance of the transatlantic relationship between the United States and the European Union; (2)recognizes that both the United States and Europe face multiple and common challenges at home and abroad and to deal effectively with many of these challenges the United States and the European Union must continue to adapt the transatlantic partnership which has served both so well; (3)acknowledges that the relationship between the United States and the European Union should continue to be strengthened through regular and intensive consultations; (4)expresses its support for the success of the forthcoming US-EU Summit on June 21, 2006, in Vienna, Austria, and encourages agreements on issues such as the continued support for global freedom, democracy, and human rights, a successful conclusion of the World Trade Organization Doha Development Agenda, and a workable transatlantic energy security strategy; and (5)joins with the European Parliament in agreeing to continue to 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 and other legislative exchanges.