Europe and the United States US: the way forward

OBJECTIVE: to analyze the main aspects of US-EU relations and define a new framework for these relations in the light of international developments (end of the Cold War) and internal changes within the Community (entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty). CONTENT: the Commission communication reaffirms the central role played by US-EU relations, for both parties and for the world as a whole, in political, economic and security terms. However, the Commission feels that these relations can no longer be based on structures which go back to the Cold War and do not take adequate account of developments within the Community. For these reasons it proposes a series of measures with a view to establishing a new joint action programme to be adopted at the Transatlantic Summit in December 1995: 1) security: the two sides should focus their dialogue on the place of the Union within NATO, the non-proliferation of nuclear arms, preventing the illicit sale of nuclear materials, controlling the international arms trade, export controls on dual-use goods, early identification of conflicts, preventive diplomacy and the monitoring of human rights and minority problems; 2) foreign policy: joint projects should be drawn up in the fields of human rights, nuclear safety, assistance to the Palestinians etc. and cooperation should be strengthened in the field of humanitarian and development assistance; 3) economy and trade: - at multilateral level, an ambitious programme of liberalization and deregulation of trade should be established. The parties must pursue the task of building up the WTO by developing a new programme of work for it and moving towards the inclusion of Russia and China. At the same time, the EU must oppose any unilateral action by the USA and ensure that new regional agreements are compatible with WTO rules; - at bilateral level, discussions must focus on the possibility of creating a transatlantic economic area, including a free trade zone. Cooperation in the fields of competition policy and services must continue. Concerning macroeconomic issues, there must be ministerial-level dialogue between the US Treasury and the ECOFIN Council and the Commission (particularly on the effects of EMU in international terms); 4) other areas of cooperation: the main questions relate to: - environment: strengthening regulatory cooperation, new joint programmes, extending cooperation on the subject of chemicals and biotechnology and introducing comparable emission standards for vehicles; - information society and telecommunications: strengthening cooperation in the satellite sector and in the fields of standards and research; - social policy and employment: more systematic exchange of information; - justice and home affairs: increased cooperation in the fight against organized crime and drugs, as well as on immigration and the right of asylum; - science and technology: global cooperation agreement in this sector; - education and training: implementation of the agreement on cooperation in higher education and vocational training; - transport; - information and culture; - urban decay; 5) at institutional level, the Commission advocates consolidating links between the European Parliament, national parliaments and the US Congress with a view to developing the dialogue.�