[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: GEORGE W. BUSH (2001, Book I)]
[June 14, 2001]
[Pages 664-668]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Goteborg Statement: Summit of the United States of America and the 
European Union
June 14, 2001

    Today in Goteborg, we, the leaders of the United States and the 
European Union, reaffirm our historic partnership. Our relationship is 
founded on strong and enduring ties between our peoples and shared 
fundamental values, including respect for human rights and individual 
liberty, democratic government and economic freedoms.
    What unites us far outweighs that which divides us. From this 
foundation, we are determined to forge a common and cooperative approach 
to the complex and changing global environment in which we live and the 
new challenges we face. Experience has taught us that, when the U.S. and 
EU work hand-in-hand, either bilaterally or multilaterally, we can be an 
engine for positive global change, nurturing the development of 
democratic regimes, opening trade and investment, working to reduce 
poverty, and protecting the environment.

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    Today's meeting takes place under conditions few of our ancestors 
could have imagined. The European-American bond of the last two 
generations has forged a great peace--rooted in democracy, free markets 
and human rights--that is our responsibility to preserve, deepen and 
extend. We renew our commitment to address in concert the most pressing 
bilateral, regional and global issues of the day.

Strengthening Our Transatlantic Bond

    We are determined to strengthen our transatlantic bond. We agree 
that, for our partnership to be a stable platform for our common global 
agenda, we must address our differences honestly and seek, in good 
faith, constructive solutions. This we intend to do.
    The U.S. and EU enjoy one of the deepest economic relationships in 
the world--the vast majority of trade and investment flows in an open, 
unfettered manner across the Atlantic. When this is not the case, we 
agree that consultation, rather than litigation, should be the preferred 
method of managing our disagreements. Moreover, we resolve to settle our 
trade disagreements more quickly and effectively. We are also determined 
to work together to explore ways to achieve this objective, including 
through mediation, and to redouble our efforts to find practical and 
mutually acceptable solutions to all outstanding trade disputes, in 
accordance with WTO rules. In this context, we welcome in particular the 
agreement to resolve the dispute on bananas. Furthermore, we reaffirm 
our determination to comply with recommendations of the WTO Dispute 
Settlement Body.
    The EU is working to acquire a civilian and military crisis 
management capability, which will reinforce the Union's ability to 
contribute to international peace and security in accordance with the 
principles of the UN Charter and make the EU a stronger, more capable 
partner in deterring and managing crises, thereby also enhancing the 
security of the Transatlantic Community. The U.S. welcomes the efforts 
of the EU to strengthen its capabilities and to develop the ability to 
manage crises, including through military operations, where NATO as a 
whole is not engaged, and in a manner that is fully coordinated, where 
NATO interests are involved, and transparent with NATO, and that 
provides for the fullest possible participation of non-EU European 
allies. In particular, the commitments made by the EU Member States 
concerning military capabilities will, as they are implemented, 
strengthen both the EU and the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance.
    One of the unique aspects of our relationship is the development of 
transatlantic civil society dialogues. We will continue to benefit from 
their advice and perspective as we confront the challenges of the 
future. We encourage efforts to intensify the Transatlantic Legislators 
Dialogue between the European Parliament and the Congress of the United 
States, a dialogue which brings our peoples closer together.

Working to Promote Peace and Prosperity in Regions throughout the World

    We remain committed to forging innovative solutions to resolve 
conflicts and will continue to promote peace, stability, democracy and 
economic renewal throughout the world.
    We are gravely concerned by the developments in the Middle East. We 
welcome and support the report by the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding 
Committee. We urge both sides to implement the report's recommendations, 
in all aspects, including ending the violence, taking confidence-
building measures and resuming negotiations. We welcome the constructive 
initiative taken by Egypt and Jordan to that end. We see no alternative 
to a negotiated solution based on UN Resolutions 242 and 338, and the 
principle of land for peace. We will continue to cooperate closely to 
promote peace in the region.

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    In recent months, we have strengthened our already close 
collaboration to bring peace, stability, democracy and economic renewal 
to South East Europe. We welcome the positive developments in the 
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In Bosnia-Herzegovina, we call upon all 
partners to contribute actively to the full implementation of the Dayton 
agreement, which remains the key element in building a lasting peace. In 
Kosovo, we welcome the promulgation of the constitutional framework for 
provisional self-government as a major step in building a peaceful, 
multi-ethnic and democratic society. We urge the people of Kosovo to 
condemn the use of violence and isolate extremists. In the Former 
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, we will continue to coordinate our 
efforts to promote a political solution to the current crisis. In this 
context, we support the political reform dialogue and look forward to a 
report in the coming days. In cooperation with NATO and OSCE, we have 
responded quickly and firmly to threats to peace in the region. 
Together, we are endeavoring to prevent extremism from undermining the 
democratic process and stress the need for political, not military, 
solutions.
    We reaffirm our support for the Stability Pact for South East 
Europe. In order to encourage the countries of the region to promote 
democracy, the rule of law, protection of minorities, the inviolability 
of international borders and regional reconciliation and cooperation, we 
will continue to engage all States in the region through the Stability 
Pact and, in the case of the EU, also within the framework of the 
Stabilization and Association Process. Our objective will be to 
encourage political and economic reforms, among them those designed to 
enhance private sector investment in the region, in order to ensure 
long-term economic renewal. We urge all governments in the region to 
cooperate with the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia in 
bringing war criminals to justice.
    We fully support President Kim Dae-Jung's 
policy for peace and reconciliation on the Korean peninsula. We 
discussed the results of the EU high-level mission to the two Koreas and 
affirmed the importance of the DPRK leadership's adherence to its 
commitment to maintain the moratorium on missile tests and to continue 
the process initiated at the inter-Korean Summit We also discussed the 
U.S. decision to enter into a serious discussion with North Korea on a 
broad agenda, which was welcomed by the EU. We agree that the inter-
Korean dialogue and cooperation, non-proliferation and human rights will 
remain issues of vital importance for further progress in developing our 
ties with the DPRK.
    We recognize the progress made since 1991 and emphasize the 
importance to Europe, to the transatlantic community and the world of 
Russia's full transition into a democratic, free market state, enjoying 
constructive relations with its neighbors and close ties to the 
transatlantic community. We pledge to continue working together and with 
Russia towards that goal, and will pursue a dialogue with Russia that is 
constructive, cooperative and, where warranted, frank. We are concerned 
about recent adverse developments regarding media, which should remain 
independent and free of interference. We call upon the Russian 
Government to pursue actively a political settlement to the conflict in 
Chechnya.
    The U.S. and EU strongly support an independent, sovereign Ukraine 
with close ties to the transatlantic community but are concerned about 
domestic developments affecting democratic and free market reforms. We 
support Ukraine's leaders in their pursuit of reforms that secure 
Ukraine's future prosperity and urge them to continue to follow this 
path. We remind Ukraine of the need to send a strong signal to the 
international community by responding positively and transparently to 
concerns over human rights, independent media and free elections.

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    We will intensify our political dialogue on the Southern Caucasus, 
where enhanced stability is a common interest. In that regard, the U.S. 
and EU remain committed to strengthening Georgia's sovereignty, 
independence, and transition to democracy and free market economy. We 
urge all sides in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to continue their 
efforts to find a peaceful settlement based on mutual compromise.

Reaffirming Our Global Responsibilities and Commitments

    We share a unique responsibility to confront issues of global 
concern and impact, and today we reiterated our commitment to address 
growing global challenges.
    We are committed to launching an ambitious new round of multilateral 
trade negotiations at the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Doha, and, in our 
high level discussions in recent weeks, have made progress towards this 
shared goal. We seek a round that will lead both to the further 
liberalization of world trade and to clarifying, strengthening and 
extending WTO rules, so as to promote economic growth and equip the 
trading system to meet the challenges of globalization. The new round 
must equally address the needs and priorities of developing countries, 
demonstrate that the trading system can respond to the concerns of civil 
society, and promote sustainable development. We will work closely 
together and with our partners in the coming weeks to secure consensus 
to launch a round based on this substantive and forward looking agenda.
    We also welcome the steady progress made so far on WTO 
implementation and are ready to examine ways to make further progress in 
connection with the launch of a new round of trade negotiations. We will 
also reinforce and improve our provision of technical assistance to 
build capacity, including capacity to support negotiations, in 
developing countries, so as to aid both their implementation of WTO 
agreements and help them to integrate more fully into the trading 
system, including the dispute settlement mechanism. Finally, we will 
continue to make efforts to secure the early accession of candidate 
countries to the WTO, with particular attention to the specific 
situation of least developed countries. This will make the WTO a truly 
universal organization.
    Recalling that the dispute settlement mechanism of the WTO is a 
central element in providing security and predictability to the 
multilateral trading system, the U.S. and EU undertake to work 
constructively to improve that mechanism.
    We agree on the need for an integrated and comprehensive approach to 
confront the diseases HIV/Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis, particularly 
in Africa, emphasizing prevention in a continuum of treatment and care, 
and spurring research and development. We support the establishment of a 
global fund to fight these diseases. We are also working together to 
ensure the success of upcoming events, such as the UN General Assembly 
Special Session on HIV/AIDS in promoting an effective global response to 
this scourge. We welcome the steps taken by the pharmaceutical industry 
to make drugs more affordable. In the context of the new global fund, we 
will work with the pharmaceutical industry and with affected countries 
to facilitate the broadest possible provision of drugs in an affordable 
and medically effective manner.
    We celebrate the important contributions migrants have made to our 
countries. Respect for the individual right to seek asylum is also an 
essential democratic value of our societies. Therefore, we underline the 
importance of a comprehensive and integrated approach to asylum and 
migration based on a common commitment to human rights, existing 
international agreements, and support for the UN High Commissioner for 
Refugees. We will focus on a broad range of issues related to asylum, 
illegal immigration and mass influxes of refugees and displaced persons.

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    We emphasize the need to take mutually reinforcing action in 
response to common problems in fighting international crime. We have, 
therefore, launched multi-annual cooperation in several areas, such as 
trafficking in human beings, cybercrime and crime related to drugs.
    We had an interesting and open dialogue here in Goteborg on climate 
change, which will continue. We recognize that climate change is a 
pressing issue that requires a global solution. The U.S. and the EU are 
both committed to providing strong leadership on climate change. Prompt, 
effective and sustainable action is needed, consistent with the ultimate 
objective of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of 
stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. We are 
determined to meet our national commitments and our obligations under 
the UNFCCC through a variety of flexible means, drawing on the power of 
markets and technology. In this context, we agree on the importance of 
intensifying cooperation on climate-related science and research. We 
disagree on the Kyoto Protocol and its ratification, but we are 
determined to work together in all relevant fora to address climate 
change and will participate constructively in the resumed COP 6 in Bonn. 
Our efforts must ultimately result in an outcome that protects the 
environment and ensures economic growth compatible with our shared 
objective of sustainable development for present and future generations.

Looking to the Future

    We have also taken a fresh look at the mechanisms of U.S.-EU 
cooperation in the context of the changing global environment. Whether 
working together to resolve disagreements, promote peace among our 
neighbors or combat threats to the broader world, we seek greater 
results. To focus our attention and efforts on elements in our common 
agenda where progress is both necessary and possible, we have selected 
the following strategic themes for cooperation over the next several 
years, keeping in mind the need for flexibility in responding to 
unforeseen events. Within these themes, we have identified immediate 
priorities on which we seek tangible progress before our next Summit.
    Addressing security challenges: Preventing conflict and managing 
crises; fighting terrorism; promoting non-proliferation;
    Promoting Growth and a Multilateral Trading System: Reaching 
agreement on the scope of the new round and working together to solicit 
support for the agreement in the run-up to the WTO Ministerial in Doha;
    Fighting Crime: Cooperating in fighting trafficking in human beings, 
drugs and cybercrime;
    Protecting the Environment: Promoting effective ways to address 
climate change;
    Fighting against poverty in the developing countries: Combating the 
communicable diseases HIV/Aids, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
    Promoting the Digital Economy and making its benefits available to 
all citizens will be an important strategic theme for our dialogue for 
the years to come.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement.