[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 102 (Thursday, June 19, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1275-E1276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRANS-ATLANTIC LEGISLATORS DIALOGUE--64TH MEETING OF DELEGATIONS OF THE 
U.S. CONGRESS AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT MEET UNDER LEADERSHIP OF THE 
                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2008

  Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I would like to call the attention of my 
colleagues in the Congress to another successful meeting of the 
Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue (TLD) that was held in Ljubljana, 
Slovenia, from May 24-26, 2008. The United States delegation continues 
to flourish under the outstanding leadership of Chairwoman Shelley 
Berkley, the gentlelady from Nevada. She has injected energy and 
enthusiasm into this interparliamentary dialogue, while further 
strengthening American relationships with a wide range of European 
parliamentarians. The Republican vice-chairman, Representative Cliff 
Stearns from Florida, has also maintained an effective voice in 
European affairs and the TLD.
  Representatives Berkley and Stearns should be praised for their 
efforts to recruit members to participate in the Slovenia session, with 
the delegation of 10 members being the largest and by all reports most 
well informed in recent years. I commend the members of this bipartisan 
delegation--Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Rep. 
Russ Carnahan (D-MO), Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Rep Sheila Jackson-Lee 
(D-TX), Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA), Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), and Rep. 
Loretta Sanchez (D-CA)--for contributing to a rich and meaningful 
exchange of views.
   The TLD serves as the formal response of the European Parliament and 
the U.S. Congress to the commitment in the New Transatlantic Agenda 
(NTA) of 1995 to enhance legislative ties between the European Union 
and the United States. Building on the existing interparliamentary 
relationship, the TLD involves bi-annual meetings between American and 
European legislators in order to discuss topics of mutual interest and 
foster transatlantic discourse.
   The most recent session in Slovenia addressed a wide range of 
foreign policy challenges, including the Middle East, China, Russia, 
and Kosovo. Members discussed regulatory initiatives being undertaken 
by the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), with American members 
reinforcing Administration

[[Page E1276]]

concerns about European initiatives on poultry and chemicals used to 
manufacture cosmetics that have a detrimental effect on American 
farmers and producers. American members also responded to European 
concerns about the visa waiver program and legislation requiring 100% 
cargo scanning to ensure port security. In addition, the delegates 
discussed the challenge of climate change, the importance of energy 
security, and the current global financial crisis.
   Madam Speaker, I would like to place in the Record the joint 
statement that was agreed upon by American and European legislators at 
the 64th TLD meeting in Ljubljana. It underscores the rich agenda of 
this meeting and highlights the many areas in which there was strong 
transatlantic agreement.

 Transatlantic Legislator's Dialogue--64th Meeting of Delegations From 
  the European Parliament and the United States, Ljubljana, 24-26 May 
                          2008 Joint Statement

       We, Members of the European Parliament and the United 
     States House of Representatives, held our 64th 
     Interparliamentary meeting (Transatlantic Legislators' 
     Dialogue) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 24-26 May 2008.
        Building on the joint statement issued following our last 
     meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, on 5-8 October 2007, we 
     stressed the importance of regular dialogue on a range of 
     political, social and economic issues that affect all of our 
     citizens. We agreed to report back to our parent bodies on 
     the content and outcome of our discussions, particularly in 
     the areas where joint efforts are likely to result in 
     positive outcomes. We agreed that legislators in both sides 
     of the Atlantic should increase dialogue and consultation 
     amongst themselves in order to prevent possible conflicts of 
     legislation. Direct and timely contacts between specialist 
     committees from Congress and the European Parliament--such as 
     those that have occurred within the TLD framework--have been 
     valuable means of reinforcing cooperation; this exchange of 
     information should be continued and enhanced.
        We examined a wide array of foreign policy issues, 
     agreeing that joint action by the European Union and the 
     United States is the most effective way to approach problems 
     that affect both sides of the Atlantic. We took stock of 
     recent developments with regard to the Middle East Peace 
     process, the nuclear threat posed by Iran and the situation 
     in Iraq. On Afghanistan, we recognized the need for a joint 
     long-term strategy aimed at stabilizing the internal 
     situation and reducing risks for regional security. We noted 
     a proposal to develop a joint fund for humanitarian services 
     and infrastructure development in Afghanistan. We discussed 
     the future political an economical development in Kosovo, and 
     recognized that joint efforts were essential in order to 
     ensure a peaceful and prosperous future for the Western 
     Balkans, including an EU perspective. We analyzed development 
     in Russia's domestic and foreign policies, including the U.S. 
     Administration's proposed missile defense plans as well as 
     European efforts to diversify their energy supply and ensure 
     their energy security. We also assessed our economic and 
     political relationship with China, expressing concern over 
     recent events in Tibet.
        The dialogue focused on the ongoing discussions between 
     the U.S. and the EU in order to extend access to the U.S. 
     Visa Waiver programme in the future to all EU Member States, 
     as well as to the importance of ensuring safe trade an port 
     security.
        We also discussed the current global financial crisis. We 
     agreed on the need for continued discussion and joint actions 
     to address the effects of climate change.
        With regard to the Transatlantic Economic Council (TEC), 
     we noted with satisfaction the engagement of the TLD on 13 
     May 2008 with TEC Co-Chairs Gunther Verheugen and Dan Price 
     in the framework of the `Advisory group'. The European 
     Parliament Resolution on the TEC and the letter by the U.S. 
     TLD leadership to the TEC formed the basis for this dialogue. 
     We took note of the EU-U.S. High Level Regulatory Forum, the 
     joint reports on strengthening cooperation regarding the 
     safety of imported products, and the impact assessment 
     guidelines. We advocated stronger involvement of legislators 
     in contributing to and overseeing these initiatives. We 
     supported the identification of compatible biofuels standards 
     in order to achieve international harmonization at the level 
     of international standards organizations. We also welcomed 
     the joint statement on open investment, as well as the start 
     of the second phase of negotiations for the air services 
     agreement.
        We welcome the fact that the TEC has become a permanent 
     feature of the EU/U.S. relations. We also welcome the 
     decision taken on 13 May 2008 to develop a short term agenda 
     and long term roadmap for TEC activities, and consider that 
     this represents and important step towards ensuring the 
     continuity of the process. As we have done throughout the 
     establishment and initial meetings of the TEC, we continue to 
     assert that the TEC initiative should be characterized by 
     transparency and consultation of stakeholders and we call on 
     the EU and U.S. Administration to reinforce the flow of 
     information to the TLD in advance of the TEC meetings. 
     Awareness of the transatlantic impact of proposed legislation 
     and regulations should be developed in the relevant 
     legislative and regulatory bodies, as well as information 
     about the benefits of rapid advancements towards a barrier-
     free regulatory environment.
        Several items have been identified within the TEC agenda 
     that require further legislative consideration: While 
     achieving reciprocity and mutual recognition of security 
     standards remains critically important, we call on the U.S. 
     Congress to review their legislation requiring 100 percent 
     cargo scanning in recognition of European concerns regarding 
     this legislation We call on the European Parliament to 
     facilitate an early solution to the ongoing discussions on 
     the ban on imports into the EU of U.S. poultry which has 
     undergone pathogen reduction treatment In regards to the EU's 
     regulation on the registration of chemicals (REACH) we call 
     on the European Commission to bring forward legislation 
     ensuring that European and U.S. producers of cosmetics are 
     treated equitably in their requirement to register substances 
     used in their products with the EU's chemical agency.
        Finally, we welcome progress on items contained in the 
     `lighthouse projects' and related initiatives included in the 
     2007 Summit declaration. In particular, we call for: Steps 
     towards allowing the use in the United States of suppliers' 
     declarations of conformity for electrical, electronic and ICT 
     products; Further progress towards the mutual recognition of 
     U.S. GAAP and EU IFRS accounting standards; Discussion of 
     U.S. and EU regulatory issues in the insurance sector, in 
     order to enhance market access for brokers-dealers, exchanges 
     and other trading systems; and Progress in other areas of 
     regulatory cooperation, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, 
     and animal testing.
        In conclusion, both sides renewed their commitment to make 
     the TLD's work more relevant to the European Parliament and 
     to the United States House of Representatives. We agreed to 
     identify ways by which to reinforce the involvement of the 
     TLD and our legislatures in the preparation of the EU/U.S. 
     Summit. We also agreed to further improve the effectiveness 
     of our dialogue in order to realize the full potential of our 
     interparliamentary relationship.
     Jonathan Evans, MEP,-
       Chairman, European Parliament Delegation.
     Benoit Hamon, MEP,----
       Vice Chairman, European Parliament Delegation.
     Hon. Shelley Berkley,
       Chairwoman, U.S. Congress Delegation.
     Hon. Cliff Stearns,
       Vice Chairman (Ranking Republican), U.S. Congress 
     Delegation.
     Hon. Gary Ackerman,
       Vice Chairman, U.S. Congress Delegation.

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