[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 69 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E925]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               EUROPE DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DOUG BEREUTER

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 9, 2003

  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member wishes to note that today, May 
9, is Europe Day.
  Fifty-three years ago, then French Foreign Minister Robert Shuman 
announced a plan that proposed the pooling of European coal and steel 
production under a common authority as a way to bring some sense of 
order to the economic recovery of post-World War II Europe.
  The Shuman Declaration, which was formalized in a treaty the 
following year, was regarded as the first step toward achieving a 
united Europe. Since that time, we have witnessed an extraordinary 
evolution within Europe toward what has now become the European Union--
a treaty-based institutional framework which defines and manages 
economic and political cooperation among its current 15--soon to be--25 
member countries.
  Mr. Speaker, although the difficult debate over Iraq presented yet 
another challenge to the relationship between the United States and a 
few countries in Europe, it remains clear to this Member a strong, 
developed transatlantic relationship is critical to the long-term 
political, economic and security interests of both the United States 
and Europe. It is also clear that one of the central ingredients to a 
successful partnership with Europe is a stable, integrated and dynamic 
Europe--and the European Union has evolved to become, along with NATO, 
one of the two critical international organizations for achieving those 
objectives.
  We in this country may not fully understand or appreciate all that 
has, and is, evolving within the European Union. But it remains clear 
that as we have worked so well with Europe within the NATO Alliance 
over the years, we must strive to develop a better working knowledge 
of, and relationship with, the European Union that will be both a 
transatlantic partner and an economic competitor for America.
  Mr. Speaker, as we prepare for the forthcoming U.S.--EU summit in 
June, today, Europe Day, is as good a time as ever to begin to renew 
our enduring and critical alliance with the countries of Europe and 
with the European Union.

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