[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 51 (Monday, December 21, 1998)]
[Page 2505]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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Joint United States-European Union Statement on Chapter IV New 
Transatlantic Agenda Dialogues

December 18, 1998

    The United States and European Union affirm their commitment to the 
process of strengthening and broadening public support on both sides of 
the Atlantic for the U.S.-EU partnership by fostering ``people-to-
people'' transatlantic links between non-governmental actors. We applaud 
the steps taken during the Austrian EU Presidency to further the process 
of building bridges across the Atlantic, in particular, the 
establishment of the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue and the on-going 
and constructive input we receive from the Transatlantic Business 
Dialogue. We have given encouragement to the Transatlantic Labor 
Dialogue to develop further its program of work. Building on work that 
began this year, we look forward to the formal launching of a 
Transatlantic Environmental Dialogue early next year. We welcome 
contacts that are taking place between development NGOs with a view to 
the possibility of establishing a Transatlantic Development Dialogue.
    We look forward to these dialogues providing recommendations to us 
on an ongoing basis on issues of mutual concern, as they have done for 
today's Summit. We welcome input from these dialogues as well as other 
sectors of society to help shape our agenda.
    We will work with all of the transatlantic dialogues to ensure that 
lines of communication to government are balanced and open. We will work 
with the dialogues to help ensure their sustainability. This process 
will require resources and support from outside of government, and we 
will encourage the development of links with the private sector, 
including foundations. We reaffirm our commitment to support initiatives 
to deepen the commercial, social, cultural, scientific and educational 
ties between our respective societies. We recognize that there is much 
that our transatlantic communities can learn from one another.

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