Whereas, on May 9, 1950, then-French Foreign Minister
Robert Schuman presented his vision for rebuilding Europe after the devastation
of two world wars by uniting enemies through economic cooperation within the
European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), explaining that “Europe will not be
made all at once, or according to a single plan. It will be built through
concrete achievements which first create a de facto solidarity”;
Whereas the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel
Community was established in 1952, became the European Parliament in 1962, and
began direct elections in 1979;
Whereas for the last 60 years, the United States has
supported the evolution of the European Coal and Steel Community into the
European Union, working in solidarity with our European partners to address the
political and economic challenges confronting the transatlantic
alliance;
Whereas the United States and the European Union have
developed a strong and integrated economic relationship, which generates an
estimated $4 trillion in commercial activity per year and accounts for close to
60 percent of global GDP and roughly 40 percent of world trade;
Whereas the United States and the European Union are each
other's largest trading and investment partners, responsible for creating up to
an estimated 14 million jobs on both sides of the Atlantic;
Whereas the European Union and its Member States combined
are among the major donors supporting the reconstruction and transition process
in Afghanistan, having contributed more than 8 billion Euros between 2002 and
2010;
Whereas President George W. Bush, in a speech to leaders
of the European Union on February 21, 2005, stressed that “the alliance of
Europe and North America is the main pillar of our security” and that “our
strong friendship is essential to peace and prosperity across the
globe”;
Whereas Vice President Joseph Biden, in a speech to the
European Parliament on May 6, 2010, declared that the past 65 years have
shown that when Americans and Europeans devote their energies to common
purpose, there is almost nothing we are unable to accomplish
;
Whereas formal exchanges between the House of
Representatives and the European Parliament began in 1972, when the first group
of Members of Congress traveled to Brussels to meet and exchange views with
their parliamentary counterparts;
Whereas in 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 consultation between leaders on both sides of the
Atlantic, including their respective legislative bodies, to promote peace,
stability, democracy, and development around the world, to respond to global
challenges, and to contribute to the expansion of world trade and closer
economic relations; and
Whereas, on December 1, 2009, the Lisbon Treaty entered
into force in the European Union, increasing the powers of the European
Parliament in the legislative process and creating a High Representative for
Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and a President of the European Council:
Now, therefore, be it
That the House of
Representatives—
(1)congratulates the European Union on the
60th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, which is now celebrated as Europe
Day on May 9th, that led to the successful union of European nations and
contributed to lasting peace and prosperity across the continent;
(2)recognizes that the United States and the
European Union face common challenges at home and abroad and believes that a
regular dialogue between Congress and the European Parliament is important in
fostering the United States and European Union relationship; and
(3)recognizes the
importance of regular dialogue between Congress and the European
Parliament.