[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 230 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 230

Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome signed on March 
  25, 1957, which was a key step in creating the European Union, and 
reaffirming the close and mutually beneficial relationship between the 
                       United States and Europe.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2007

 Mr. Wexler (for himself, Mr. Lantos, and Mr. Gallegly) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                                Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Treaty of Rome signed on March 
  25, 1957, which was a key step in creating the European Union, and 
reaffirming the close and mutually beneficial relationship between the 
                       United States and Europe.

Whereas, after a half century marked by two world wars and at a time when Europe 
        was divided and some nations were deprived of freedom, and as the 
        continent faced the urgent need for economic and political recovery, 
        major European statesmen such as Robert Schuman, Jean Monnet, Paul-Henri 
        Spaak, Konrad Adenauer, Alcide de Gasperi, Sir Winston Churchill, and 
        others joined together to lay the foundations of an ever closer union 
        among their peoples;
Whereas on March 25, 1957, the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Italy, 
        Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg signed the Treaty of Rome to 
        establish a customs union, to create a framework to promote the free 
        movement of people, services, and capital among the member states, to 
        support agricultural growth, and to create a common transport policy, 
        which gave new impetus to the pledge of unity in the European Coal and 
        Steel Agreement of 1951;
Whereas to fulfill its purpose, the European Union has created a unique set of 
        institutions: the directly-elected European Parliament, the Council 
        consisting of representatives of the Member States, the Commission 
        acting in the general interest of the Community, and the Court of 
        Justice to enforce the rule of law;
Whereas on February 7, 1992, the leaders of the then 12 members of the European 
        Community signed the Treaty of Maastricht establishing a common European 
        currency, the Euro, to be overseen by a common financial institution, 
        the European Central Bank, for the purpose of a freer movement of 
        capital and common European economic policies;
Whereas the European Union was expanded with the addition of the United Kingdom, 
        Denmark, and Ireland in 1973, Greece in 1981, Spain and Portugal in 
        1986, a unified Germany in 1990, Austria, Finland, and Sweden in 1995, 
        Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, 
        Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia in 2004, and Bulgaria and Romania in 
        2007, making the European Union a body of 27 countries with a population 
        of over 450 million people;
Whereas the European Union has developed policies in the economic, security, 
        diplomatic, and political areas: it has established a single market with 
        broad common policies to organize that market and ensure prosperity and 
        cohesion; it has built an economic and monetary union, including the 
        Euro currency; and it has built an area of freedom, security, and 
        justice, extending stability to its neighbors;
Whereas following the end of the Cold War and the disintegration of the Soviet 
        Union, the European Union has played a critical role in the former 
        Central European communist states in promoting free markets, democratic 
        institutions and values, respect for human rights, and the resolve to 
        fight against tyranny and for common national security objectives;
Whereas for the past 50 years the United States and the European Union have 
        shared a unique partnership, mindful of their common heritage, shared 
        values and mutual interests, have worked together to strengthen 
        transatlantic security, to preserve and promote peace and freedom, to 
        develop free and prosperous economies, and to advance human rights; and
Whereas the United States has supported the European integration process and has 
        consistently supported the objective of European unity and the 
        enlargement of the European Union as desirable developments which 
        promote prosperity, peace, and democracy, and which contribute to the 
        strengthening of the vital relationship between the United States and 
        the nations of Europe: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the historic significance of the Treaty of 
        Rome on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of its signing;
            (2) commends the European Union and the member nations of 
        the European Union for the positive role which the institution 
        has played in the growth, development, and prosperity of 
        contemporary Europe;
            (3) recognizes the important role played by the European 
        Union in fostering the independence, democracy, and economic 
        development of the former Central European communist states 
        following the end of the Cold War;
            (4) acknowledges the vital role of the European Union in 
        the development of the close and mutually beneficial 
        relationship that exists between the United States and Europe;
            (5) affirms that in order to strengthen the transatlantic 
        partnership there must be a renewed commitment to regular and 
        intensive consultations between the United States and the 
        European Union; and
            (6) joins with the European Parliament in agreeing to 
        strengthen the transatlantic partnership by enhancing the 
        dialogue and collaboration between the United States Congress 
        and the European Parliament.
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