[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 390 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
November 5, 2003.
Whereas for more than a half century transatlantic policy cooperation and
coordination have been essential for the preservation of peace and
freedom in Europe, have enabled the development of free and prosperous
economies, and helped restore stability and unity in the Euro-Atlantic
area;
Whereas a central goal of United States policy toward Europe remains that the
development of a Europe united, free, strong, and at peace is in the
best interests of the United States and Europe so long as the United
States and Europe continue to work as partners, not rivals or
counterweights;
Whereas the central pillar of the United States partnership with Europe remains
a strong and cohesive Atlantic Alliance;
Whereas the United States and the European community are aware of their shared
responsibility, not only to further transatlantic security, but to
address other common interests such as environmental protection, poverty
reduction, combatting international crime and promoting human rights,
and to work together to meet those transnational challenges which affect
the well-being of all;
Whereas in recognition of the threats posed by global terrorism, terrorist
states, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and the nexus
of the three, the partnership should be expanded progressively from a
transatlantic community of values to an effective transatlantic
community of action by developing a collaborative strategy and action
plan for dealing with those challenges of mutual interest and concern;
Whereas no policy disagreement, such as the dispute with respect to Iraq, should
be allowed to significantly disrupt transatlantic relations nor cause
any member of the Euro-Atlantic community to choose between partners;
Whereas a renewed commitment to strengthen the partnership through increased
cooperation, communication, consultation and information-exchange is
required to achieve our common goals, which will continue to ensure
peace and prosperity between the United States and Europe;
Whereas Congress has played a constructive role in this cooperative approach to
partnership with Europe through mechanisms such as the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO) Parliamentary Assembly, the Transatlantic
Legislators' Dialogue, and the Organization for Security and Cooperation
in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly which have for years brought
together legislators of both the United States and Europe for
discussions of issues of common interest in order to further
transatlantic understanding and partnership at the parliamentary level;
and
Whereas the House of Representatives welcomes and congratulates the newest
member nations invited to join NATO and the European Union and looks
forward to broader dialogue through their participation in these
transatlantic parliamentary organizations: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) affirms the conviction of the United States that, despite the
occasional differences and difficulties, the underlying ties which have
historically bound the people of the United States and of Europe remain
strong;
(2) accepts the indivisibility of transatlantic security which
provides an indispensable link between North America and Europe;
(3) recognizes that both the United States and Europe face new
challenges at home and abroad and must strengthen and adapt the
transatlantic partnership to effectively meet these challenges;
(4) acknowledges that in order to strengthen the transatlantic
partnership there must be a renewed commitment to regular and intensive
consultation, information exchange and dialogue between the United
States Government and the governments of Europe and the European Union;
and
(5) commits on its part to continue to improve the transatlantic
partnership by enhancing the communication between the United States
Congress and the legislatures of Europe through the formal frameworks of
the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Transatlantic Legislators'
Dialogue, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and various other formal and
informal inter-parliamentary organizations.
Attest:
Clerk.