Iranian nuclear issue, the WTO talks and fighting terrorism are
among the top of the agenda for the European Union (EU)- US summit,
which is due to be held on Wednesday in Vienna, it was revealed on
Tuesday.
On Tuesday night, US President George W. Bush arrived at Vienna,
and at the summit on Wednesday he is expected to hold talks with
Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, who holds the revolving EU
presidency, European Commission President Jose Barroso, EU foreign
policy chief Javier Solana and other officials.
Prior to Bush's visit to Vienna, the European Commission
(EC),the executive body of the EU, said there are four "main
topics" on the agenda of the one-day summit, namely, "foreign
policy", "energy", "economy and trade", and "climate change".
As for foreign policy, the EC press release explains that it
would mainly focuses on Iran, the Middle East and promotion of
democracy.
As for economy and trade, the EC said the summit is aimed to
move towards conclusion of the Doha WTO round negotiations,
maintaining open investment regimes, and adopting a strategy for
the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in third
countries.
The EU will also raise the need to extend the US Visa Waiver
Program to all citizens of EU Member States.
This was echoed by the US side.
"Iran will certainly be a topic with the EU leadership, but I
think it will be simply to review the bidding, where we are, and
reaffirm what has been very good cooperation and solidarity on the
international community," White House National Security Adviser
Steve Hadley said prior to Bush's tour.
On May 31, the US sharply changed its position on Iran by
agreeing to join the EU to hold direct talks with Iran if Tehran
suspends its current nuclear program.
On June 1, the US China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany
agreed in Vienna on a new package of resolving the Iranian nuclear
issue, and it was presented by Solana on June 6, but Tehran has not
yet made formal response.
Trade is another issue that will come under scrutiny in Vienna,
particularly the outlook for progress in the current round of world
trade negotiations.
Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are struggling to
meet a year-end deadline for completion of the so-called Doha round
of trade talks. In a recent Washington address, President Bush
acknowledged the talks are in trouble, and called on all nations to
make concessions.
"Now is the time for the world to come together, and make this
world a free trading world, not only for the benefit of our own
economies, but as an important part of the strategy to reduce
poverty around the world," Bush said.
However, EU trade officials complain the United States is
calling on others to take action, but is not willing to make enough
concessions of its own, particularly in the area of agricultural
trade.
Energy security and cooperation is an issue to be highlighted by
the EU side at the upcoming summit.
Following the Russia-Ukraine gas dispute last Christmas, the EU
attached vital importance to energy security, and later the EU
finalized a common energy policy.
It was reported that the EU tried to join hands with the US to
come up with a common policy on energy for the G8 summit in
July.
Against the will of the United States, however, the EU is
preparing to press Bush on thorny issues like closing of Guantanamo
military prison and clarifying CIA flights in Europe.
Last week, the European Parliament adopted a non-binding
resolution, urging the EU leaders to raised the above issues at the
EU-US summit.
During the EU summit last Thursday, Austrian foreign minister
Ursula Plassnik told a press conference that those issues would be
discussed at Wednesday's summit.
Bush will remain in Vienna for less than 24 hours, before
heading on to Budapest, Hungary.
(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2006)
