[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
[June 21, 2006]
[Pages 1187-1195]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Joint Statement: United States-European Union Summit Declaration
June 21, 2006

    We, the leaders of the United States of America and the European 
Union (EU), met today in Vienna to respond to the concerns of our 
citizens for peace, security, stability and prosperity in an 
increasingly globalize world.
    We welcome that over the past year our Transatlantic Partnership has 
delivered real results as shown by the political and economic Progress 
Reports we issued today. We remain committed to finding common or 
complementary lines of action in many areas. Over the last year, there 
have been many examples of how productive our relationship is in the 
Middle East, Iran, the Western Balkans, Belarus, on the frozen 
conflicts, and Sudan, as well as in our efforts to promote transatlantic 
trade and investment under last Summit's Economic Initiative.
    We have decided to further strengthen our strategic Partnership by 
adopting a number of priority actions to support our cooperation in the 
following four areas:
     Promoting peace, human rights and democracy worldwide;
     Confronting global challenges, including security;
     Fostering prosperity and opportunity;
     Promoting strategic cooperation on energy and energy 
            security, climate change and sustainable development.

Promoting Peace, Human Rights and Democracy Worldwide

    We recognize that the advance of democracy is a strategic priority 
of our age. We will intensify our efforts to promote peace, democracy, 
freedom, the rule of law and respect for human rights in the world to 
make it more secure, safe, and prosperous for all mankind. Noting the 
need for tolerance of diverse cultures, beliefs and religions and the 
importance of dialogue while emphasizing respect for universal human 
rights, we will sustain our efforts to advance democracy.
    We will work with the United Nations and international and regional 
organizations, civil society, NGOs and dedicated individuals committed 
to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We will work to ensure 
that the newly created Human Rights Council becomes an effective and 
efficient body committed to the promotion and protection of human rights 
and fundamental freedoms for all. We underline our shared commitment to 
UN-Reform and we welcome the establishment of and give our backing to 
the Peacebuilding Commission and the UN Democracy Fund. We will continue 
to support reform in the Mediterranean region and the Middle East and 
will promote greater participation of civil society in the reform 
process through our respective efforts, including the Barcelona Process, 
the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Middle East Partnership 
Initiative, and our joint actions through the Broader Middle East and 
North Africa Initiative and the Foundation and Fund for the Future.
    We will continue to closely cooperate in the Middle East, notably 
through the Quartet. We welcome the temporary international mechanism to 
deliver assistance directly to the Palestinian people. We will continue 
to deliver humanitarian assistance and promote Palestinian democracy and

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civil society. Whilst recalling President Abbas' commitment to a 
platform of peace, we will continue to urge the new Palestinian 
government to commit to non-violence, recognize Israel's right to exist 
and accept existing agreements and obligations. We will continue to call 
on Israel to ease restrictions on access and movement and to take 
additional steps including with respect to the Palestinian tax and 
customs revenues, to improve the humanitarian situation of the 
Palestinian people. We remind both sides of their obligations under the 
15 November 2005 Agreement. We will continue to promote a negotiated 
solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the Roadmap 
in order to advance a just, viable and lasting two-state solution and we 
call on both parties to avoid unilateral measures that prejudice final 
status issues. We call on the Palestinian Authority government to 
implement policies that will permit the international community to 
provide greater support to and review its policies on contact with the 
Palestinian Authority.
    We will strongly urge Syria to implement UNSC Resolutions 1559, 
1595, 1636, 1680 and 1686 and to prevent its territory from being used 
to support violence in Iraq, and end cross-border transit and support 
for terrorist groups. Similarly, Syria must end its support for Lebanese 
and non-Lebanese militias, and prevent the smuggling of arms and other 
support to these groups. We will work together to increase support for 
human rights and democracy, and secure the release of political 
prisoners in Syria. We will strongly urge Syria to refrain from any 
attempt at destabilizing Lebanon.
    We will jointly support political, economic and institutional 
reforms in Lebanon, as well as its sovereignty, democracy, territorial 
integrity, unity and political independence. We will strengthen efforts 
to coordinate assistance to Lebanon, and we support the reform plan of 
the Lebanese government and seek to work towards an international Core 
Group conference. We support the efforts of the Lebanese government to 
disarm and disband Lebanese and non-Lebanese militias, as called for in 
UNSCR 1559 and 1680, and we will support the call expressed by the UN 
Security Council to halt the flow of arms and funds to terrorist groups 
and militias. We support UNSCR 1686 and the continuation of the 
investigation of the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister 
Rafiq Hariri.
    We support progress by the Government of Egypt towards ensuring 
fundamental freedoms, and building multi-party democracy. We will 
continue to encourage the Egyptian government to proceed with the 
fundamental political and constitutional reforms it announced 
particularly by replacing the emergency law with a counterterrorism law 
in conformity with international human rights standards.
    We will support the newly constitutionally elected government of 
Iraq and call upon it to continue the policies of inclusiveness as a 
means to overcome divisions within Iraq. We will continue to assist in 
building an independent, stable, secure, democratic, prosperous and 
united Iraq at peace with its neighbors and the international community. 
We call on the international community to show its support for the new 
government in particular by increasing development, rule of law, and 
security assistance, offering capacity building support, providing 
generous debt relief on terms equivalent to the Paris Club Agreement and 
extending its local presence keeping in mind the security situation.
    Over the past year our cooperation on Iran has reached a new level. 
We have worked closely together at every stage of the ongoing attempts 
to address the question of Iran's nuclear program. We have agreed on a 
set of far-reaching proposals as a basis for discussion with Iran. We 
believe that they offer Iran the chance to reach a negotiated agreement 
based on cooperation, if Iran is willing to make that choice. The United 
States has made clear that it is prepared to join the negotiations

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should Iran resume full and verifiable suspension of all enrichment 
related and reprocessing activities as required by the IAEA. We have 
agreed that if Iran decides not to engage in negotiations, further steps 
would be taken in the Security Council. We urge Iran to take the 
positive path.
    Building on the success of the London January 2006 conference on 
Afghanistan, we will support Afghan efforts to build a democratic, 
accountable and sustainable state. We will pay particular importance to 
governance, human rights, reform of the public administration, the 
judiciary and security sector, counter-narcotics as well as an Afghan-
led process of reconciliation and justice.
    Recognizing the next year to be a crucial period for the Western 
Balkans we will build on the experience of our successful transatlantic 
cooperation by cooperating to stabilize the countries in the region, 
support their European and Euro-Atlantic perspectives and to combat 
organized crime and corruption. We will continue to work with NATO as 
well as the OSCE to ensure the security and prosperity of the region. On 
Kosovo in particular, we will continue to ensure the convergence of our 
positions on the ongoing talks in order to promote a lasting status that 
respects the Contact Group principles. We will develop our relations 
with Montenegro as a sovereign, independent State and call on both 
Serbia and Montenegro to pursue a direct and constructive dialogue on 
their future relations.
    Ukraine has made remarkable progress in democratic and economic 
reforms. Building on the March 2006 elections, we will support Ukraine's 
development as a democratic, prosperous and secure country. We will help 
Ukraine pursue economic reforms, combat corruption and reform the energy 
sector.
    We will continue to support the democratic aspirations of the people 
of Belarus and work together to strengthen democratic institutions, 
assist civil society, and promote independent media. We condemn the use 
of violence in Belarus and the repression of the democratic opposition 
and we urge the authorities of Belarus to release all political 
detainees. The travel ban imposed on President Lukashenko and others, as 
well as the freezing of assets of individuals responsible for violations 
of international election standards and human rights abuses are good 
examples of our broad cooperation and coordination. We remain resolved 
to help the people of Belarus achieve their aspirations for a better 
future.
    We will contribute to finding a solution to the Transnistrian 
conflict that assures Moldova's territorial integrity. We will work with 
all relevant parties to resolve through peaceful, negotiated settlements 
the frozen conflicts in the Southern Caucasus and encourage the 
democratic processes in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia.
    We will work together to promote democratic and economic reforms, 
human rights, freedom of expression and the press, the rule of law in 
Central Asia to promote international security and stability. We 
continue to call upon Uzbekistan government to facilitate an independent 
international investigation into the tragic events of Andijon.
    We attach great importance to our relationship with Russia and are 
pursuing deeper cooperation on a range of issues of common interest, 
including some important foreign policy issues, non-proliferation and 
counterterrorism. We are concerned about some recent developments in 
Russia and the region and will work with Russia to promote energy 
security, the application of the rule of law, an independent judiciary 
and full respect for human rights, including free and independent media 
and a vibrant civil society, and a resolution of frozen conflicts in the 
region. We will make constructive use of the OSCE as an important forum 
for cooperative and comprehensive security and call on Russia to fulfill 
all Istanbul and OSCE commitments.

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    Regarding our respective relations with Latin America and the 
Caribbean, we recognize the need for greater collaboration to promote 
stable and effective democracies, as well as market economies that 
contribute to greater social cohesion. We will actively engage NGOs and 
civil society, and we will support access to information, establishment 
of rule of law and independent media where this is not provided. Where 
necessary, we call on countries in the region to provide coherent and 
effective support and protection to individuals, organizations or 
institutions working for the promotion and protection of human rights 
and democracy. We express our deep concern about the human rights 
situation in Cuba, and urge the Cuban government to take rapid steps to 
improve the situation. We welcome the reestablishment of the 
constitutional order in Haiti, support the renewal of the UN 
Stabilization Mission's mandate, and welcome police and troop 
contributions to the mission.
    We will jointly work towards rapid implementation of the Darfur 
Peace Agreement. We will work with the United Nations and other 
international and regional partners and organizations, including NATO, 
to strengthen the African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) with the 
assistance required, and UN authorization to ``bluehat'' the AMIS force 
by September. We will continue to support the Comprehensive Peace 
Agreement in Sudan and will continue to mobilize resources for 
humanitarian needs.
    We will seek to ensure successful elections on 30 July 2006 in the 
Democratic Republic of Congo, and will continue our support for the 
building of government institutions, training programs, and security 
sector reform. In the post-transition the United States and the EU will 
prioritize support for improved governance, the rule of law and security 
sector reform.
    In Somalia, we reiterate our support to the efforts of the 
Transitional Federal Institutions (TFI) in pursuing dialogue, 
reconciliation and stable governance. We will assist the transition and 
the establishment of viable and inclusive institutions in order to 
promote stability in Somalia and the region.
    We will further coordinate our respective efforts on humanitarian 
and democracy assistance to address the worsening plight of the 
population in Zimbabwe. We call on the Government of Zimbabwe to restore 
democratic freedoms and the rule of law, and to respect human rights. We 
are ready, as soon as significant action in this direction is taken, to 
reconsider the restrictive measures now in place against Zimbabwe. We 
also call for measures by the Government of Zimbabwe needed to reverse 
the economic collapse.
    We will enhance our joint efforts in conflict prevention and crisis 
management by increasing consultations on current and potential crises, 
identifying ways to strengthen cooperation in crisis management and 
post-conflict reconstruction, and coordinating efforts to improve 
international crisis management capacities.

Confronting Global Challenges, including Security

    Since no single nation can efficiently and effectively deal with 
global challenges such as climate change, counter-terrorism, non-
proliferation, pandemics and natural disasters on its own, we commit 
ourselves to strengthening our cooperation to address these challenges.
    Consistent with our common values, we will ensure that measures 
taken to combat terrorism comply fully with our international 
obligations, including human rights law, refugee law and international 
humanitarian law. We attach great importance to our ongoing in-depth 
dialogue on our common fight against terrorism and our respective 
domestic and international legal obligations.
    We will step up our cooperation against terrorism, including through 
denying resources (financing, travel, and other material support) and 
shelter to terrorists, and

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we will co-ordinate efforts to prevent a new generation of recruits from 
emerging by countering radicalization and recruitment, and promoting 
tolerance, including by cooperating on developing regional strategies 
and by implementing--and encouraging others to implement--steps required 
by UNSCR 1624. In particular, we will work to enhance our border 
security cooperation by improving lost and stolen passport data sharing 
with Interpol, coordinating the implementation of biometric standards 
based on ICAO recommendations. We will cooperate to block terrorism 
financing, in particular in the informal financial sector, by developing 
improved procedures for information sharing and a more pro-active use of 
financial investigations implementing FATF Special Recommendations, 
among others by enforcing cash declaration regulations for travelers, 
optimizing the use of financial intelligence and controls, and engaging 
the private sector to develop partnerships to enhance protection of 
financial institutions.
    We will strengthen our cooperation by completing negotiations on a 
U.S.-Eurojust cooperative agreement and we will step up our coordination 
to improve counterterrorism capacity building in third countries. We 
welcome the signature of bilateral agreements by EU member states and 
the United States to accompany the U.S.-EU Mutual Legal Assistance 
Treaty and Extradition Agreements, and will aim to bring them into force 
as soon as possible. We intend to agree without delay on a Comprehensive 
UN Convention on International Terrorism, and on a universally accepted 
definition of terrorism and we will work with others towards a targeted 
UN strategy on combating terrorism. We take note of the ``Vienna 
Initiative'', initialed on 4th May, on possible future tripartite 
cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs between the EU, the 
Russian Federation and the United States.
    We will strengthen our efforts to prevent access by terrorists to 
weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and their means of delivery. We will 
work together to further implement our Program of Work on the Non-
Proliferation of WMD, in particular by reinforcing our support for the 
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and we will continue to work together 
to strengthen it, stressing the importance of compliance and promoting 
its universality.
    Our cooperation will include the full implementation of UNSC 
Resolution 1540, including by conducting joint demarches, where 
appropriate, to urge all countries to fully implement their obligations 
under UNSCR 1540, and by assisting States to meet their obligations. In 
implementing UNSC Resolution 1540, we will also address the issue of 
financing of proliferation-related activities and develop our 
cooperation in that regard by seeking to identify, track, seize or 
freeze assets associated with the proliferation trade, in accordance 
with national legislation and consistent with international law, and 
consider further actions against proliferation finance.
    We will support the rapid opening and conclusion of negotiations on 
a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty at the Conference on Disarmament and 
emphasize that, pending the conclusion of the Treaty and the Treaty's 
entry into force, all states should declare publicly and observe a 
moratorium on the production of fissile material for use in nuclear 
weapons. We will continue to work together in the Nuclear Suppliers 
Group framework on proposals to develop transfer restrictions on 
enrichment and reprocessing (ENR) technology and to support multilateral 
mechanisms for reliable fuel supply assurances for States that have 
chosen not to pursue ENR.
    We will coordinate efforts in preparing for the Biological Toxins 
and Weapons Convention Review Conference with a view to promote a 
productive outcome, the universality of the convention and the 
implementation by all States Parties through national laws and 
regulations in order to put these obligations into practice. We reaffirm

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our commitment to the Chemical Weapons Convention and its full 
implementation.
    We reiterate our support for multilateral efforts to improve 
prevention and combat global health threats such as the spread of 
pandemics, including HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, and other 
communicable diseases like SARS and Hepatitis. We agree that priority 
should be given to promoting effective control measures in animal health 
as a means to reduce outbreaks of H5N1 in birds. We will further 
increase regional and global cooperation between states, international 
organizations and civil society in mitigating and preparing for a 
pandemic, to which input by the International Partnership on Avian and 
Pandemic Influenza is welcome. We will further improve coordination of 
our response to natural disasters that have cost the lives of hundreds 
of thousands of people.

Fostering Prosperity and Opportunity

    We reiterate our strong commitment to reaching an ambitious 
conclusion to the Doha Development Agenda by the end of 2006. These 
negotiations are at a critical phase and we call on all WTO members to 
demonstrate the political will and courage necessary to achieve an 
ambitious and balanced agreement that will help strengthen global 
economic growth, improve living standards, and alleviate poverty. We 
recognize the need for trade ministers to make substantial progress on 
core negotiating areas over the next few weeks in order to ensure that 
this historic opportunity to liberalize trade is not missed. As 
responsible leaders, we will continue to work in cooperation with other 
WTO members towards an agreement that is worthy of the objectives 
identified in launching the Doha Development Agenda in 2001.
    We will increase our partnership with developing countries to 
promote growth globally for the benefit of all. This will help us to 
realize the internationally agreed development goals and objectives, 
including the Millennium Development Goals and the objectives and 
commitments of the Monterrey Consensus, which have helped to galvanize 
efforts towards poverty eradication through development co-operation and 
economic growth.
    We will redouble our efforts to promote economic growth and 
innovation and reduce the barriers to transatlantic trade and investment 
by implementing all aspects of the Transatlantic Economic Initiative, in 
line with the Work Program agreed at the U.S.-EU Economic Ministerial 
Meeting in November 2005, and to be updated and reviewed at a second 
U.S.-EU Economic Ministerial meeting later this year.
    We endorse the new Action Strategy for the enforcement of 
intellectual property rights against piracy and counterfeiting. 
Implementation has already started with concrete actions aimed at 
promoting strong and effective enforcement in third countries, 
strengthening cooperation to reduce global piracy and counterfeiting, 
and offering public-private partnerships to protect intellectual 
property. We will enhance our dialogue to promote a more efficient 
international patent system.
    We will build on the progress of the High Level Regulatory 
Cooperation Forum and associated dialogues, and expand implementation of 
our Regulatory Cooperation Roadmap to address new topics and sectors and 
initiate targeted exchanges of regulatory experts. As part of our 
Innovation Initiative, we will work to measure innovation performance, 
its impact on the economy, and to understand better each other's 
innovation policies. We will implement the U.S.-EU plan on e-
accessibility with the goal of reaching a coherent approach on our 
policies in this area. We will work on an implementing arrangement on 
environment research and eco-informatics under our Agreement on 
Scientific and Technological Cooperation. We will continue to work 
together through the U.S.-EU Financial Markets Regulatory Dialogue and 
the Policy Dialogue on Border and Transportation Security.

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    We pledge to keep our investment regimes open and to build on 
existing investment flows to boost growth and create jobs in the 
transatlantic economy. We will address obstacles to transatlantic 
investment with a view to promoting closer economic integration.
    We will redouble our efforts to conclude a first stage Air Transport 
Agreement in 2006. The United States and the EU will cooperate closely 
on the legal framework governing the transfer of air passenger data 
following the European Court of Justice ruling of 30 May 2006.
    We will work together to ensure implementation of phase I of the 
Wine Agreement, and, as mutually agreed, pursue negotiations on phase II 
in September.
    We have signed today a new Agreement on Higher Education and 
Vocational Training under which our respective educational institutions 
will inaugurate innovative joint study programs, promote exchanges of 
students, teachers, and other professionals, strengthen the Fulbright-
Schuman Program and encourage greater institutional collaboration in 
tertiary education.
    We recognize the need for tangible progress to be made towards the 
establishment of reciprocal visa-free travel for all EU citizens to the 
United States, as part of our efforts to promote the economic and social 
benefits of increased travel while keeping borders secure.

Promoting Strategic Cooperation on Energy and Energy Security, Climate 
Change and Sustainable Development

    We recognize the strategic role of security of supply, 
competitiveness and sustainability in the energy sector. In this 
connection, we strongly reaffirm our commitment to the energy security 
principles enunciated by the International Energy Agency. We have agreed 
to reinforce our strategic energy cooperation to:
     support diversification of energy sources and supplies;
     secure our energy infrastructure;
     promote market-based energy security policies that ensure 
            competition, transparency, respect for contracts, and non-
            discriminatory trade, transit, and access;
     speed development of new lower-pollution and lower carbon 
            technologies;
     accelerate investment in cleaner, more efficient use of 
            fossil sources and renewable sources in order to cut air 
            pollution harmful to human health and natural resources, and 
            reducing greenhouse gases associated with the serious long-
            term challenge of global climate change.
    We will cooperate to ensure sufficient, reliable and environmentally 
responsible supplies of energy at prices reflecting market fundamentals, 
facilitating sustained global economic growth as well as expanding 
access to energy in developing countries. Thus, we agree to:
     Improve energy security by enhancing the dialogue with the 
            main transit, producer and consumer countries and by 
            promoting diversification of energy sources and supply 
            routes worldwide and notably in the Caspian Sea region, 
            Middle East, continental Africa and Latin America;
     Analyze geopolitical implications of the worldwide energy 
            situation as it develops, its impact on our external 
            policies and to develop mutually reinforcing policies where 
            appropriate;
     Promote energy security policies in key third countries by 
            encouraging a gradual transition to market pricing and 
            behavior, and co-ordinate capacity-building assistance to 
            emerging economies, including to increase energy efficiency, 
            adopt clean technologies and build strategic stocks;
     Support maintenance and improvement of pipeline 
            infrastructure to ensure uninterrupted deliveries and 
            facilitate diversification investments in

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            large trans-national projects by ensuring convergence of 
            legal and regulatory frameworks and supporting collaboration 
            among energy regulatory authorities, notably with Ukraine;
     Coordinate where appropriate technical assistance to 
            improve energy legal and regulatory frameworks and 
            investment climates in third countries;
     Improve the security of global energy networks and develop 
            standards for physical security of critical energy 
            infrastructure;
     Facilitate development of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG);
     Increase our coordination within international fora, 
            notably the G8, the International Energy Agency (IEA) and 
            the International Energy Forum (IEF);
     Use energy in a more efficient and environmentally 
            responsible manner, and in particular cooperate on improving 
            the efficiency of world-wide traded products. In this 
            context we have just initialed a new Energy Star Agreement;
     Make more and better use of renewable energy sources and 
            reinforce technological cooperation and partnerships, 
            notably on environmentally-friendly low emission power 
            generation technologies, hydrogen energy, carbon 
            sequestration, cutting gas flaring and biofuels;
     Promote diversification of fuel sources in transportation 
            sector, including through increase use of biofuels;
     Continue cooperation through the International Partnership 
            for a Hydrogen Economy and increase collaboration over 
            regulatory, standards and trade issues affecting alternative 
            fuels and emerging technologies, especially hydrogen;
     Cooperate on developing efficient, transitional transport 
            technologies, and fuel standards, such as plug-in hybrids or 
            efficient diesel engines;
     Continue scientific exchanges among U.S. and EU research 
            and development organizations focused on energy efficiency 
            in buildings;
     Promote, consistent with national energy policies, safety 
            standards in the production of nuclear energy.
    To monitor and guide this process, we will conduct an annual 
strategic review of U.S.-EU energy cooperation.
    We also agreed to promote energy security worldwide by applying the 
following Energy Security Principles:
        a.   Contractual commitments should be upheld and market-based 
            principles should prevail at all stages of the energy supply 
            chain.
        b.   Diversifying sources of energy and modes/routes of transit, 
            and ensuring non-discriminatory third-party access to 
            transit infrastructure will improve the functioning of 
            energy markets worldwide.
        c.   Open, transparent, non-discriminatory and stable legal 
            conditions that ensure fair and equitable treatment for 
            energy investment and trade are essential to helping 
            producing and transit countries meet market demands.
        d.   Further development of production and export capacities in 
            producer countries in a safe and secure environment, and the 
            upgrading of existing and development of new energy 
            transportation infrastructures by producer and transit 
            countries as well as further development of refinery 
            capacity in all countries are critical.
        e.   Bolstering and ensuring the highest levels of physical and 
            environmental security and safety of energy infrastructures, 
            as well as the highest level of nuclear safety, is crucial 
            to the durability and sustainability of the global energy 
            system.

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        f.   We should encourage the most economic and efficient use of 
            energy worldwide notably through the use of market-based 
            instruments to minimize negative environmental consequences, 
            and should promote in particular the use of cleaner and more 
            efficient use of fossil fuels and the development of 
            economically competitive non-fossil energy sources based on 
            appropriate policies and market-based instruments.
        g.   We should promote continued research, development and 
            deployment of alternative energy sources and the 
            facilitation of technological and industrial co-operation.
        h.   Supporting effective implementation of transparency and 
            data sharing initiatives, such as the Joint Oil Data 
            Initiative (JODI), including on the evaluation of oil 
            reserves, and the Extractive Industries Transparency 
            Initiative (EITI) will improve transparency and 
            predictability of the market for all stakeholders.
        i.   Addressing energy poverty endured by many of the world's 
            poorest people who will still lack access to modern energy 
            services is a priority.
    We will work more closely to address the serious and long-term 
challenge of climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution and 
will act with resolve and urgency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We 
will continue our dialogue and efforts under the UN Framework Convention 
on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including work on long-term cooperative 
action in the process established in Montreal in December 2005. To this 
end, we have agreed to establish an U.S.-EU High Level Dialogue on 
Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development to build on 
existing bilateral and multilateral initiatives and further advance 
implementation of the G-8 Gleneagles Plan of Action for Climate Change, 
Clean Energy and Sustainable Development. This dialogue will be guided 
by the ultimate objective of the UNFCCC and will initially meet in fall 
2006 in Helsinki. Among topics of importance for this dialogue will be 
experience with different market-based mechanisms to promote cost-
effective reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; advancing the 
development and deployment of existing and transformational technologies 
that are cleaner and more efficient, producing energy with significantly 
lower emissions; efficiency and conservation; renewable fuels; clean 
diesel; capture of methane; lower emitting agricultural operations and 
energy production and distribution systems, as well as other 
environmental issues.

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