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Climate summit at the White House
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Datum nieuwsfeit: 04-11-2009 |
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Bron: Swedish Presidency of the European Union |
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Swedish Presidency of the European Union
Climate summit at the White House
Climate was the most important issue during Tuesday's summit between
the European Union and the United States. Swedish Prime Minister
Fredrik Reinfeldt, representing the EU Presidency, European Commission
President José Manuel Barroso and EU High Representative for the
Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, met with U.S.
President Barack Obama in the White House. The situation in
Afghanistan, Iran and a new energy cooperation were also among the
topics on the agenda.
Photo: Gunnar Seijbold/Regeringskansliet
Javier Solana, Fredrik Reinfeldt, Barack Obama and José Manuel
Barroso.
* Download high resolution image (486 KB)
* Photo usage rights
Watch the press conference after the Summit here.
Sweden's Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson, Sweden's Foreign
Minister Carl Bildt and EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner also
represented the EU side at the meeting.
President Obama began the press briefing following the summit by
congratulating the EU on the finalization of the Lisbon Treaty.
"It will further move Europe in the direction of integration not only
on economic policy but also on a number of security issues," he said.
Climate issues
"The meeting was mainly a climate summit where we discussed how to
bring about an agreement in Copenhagen. We have shown our political
will and understand each others political processes. Now we will help
drive those processes forward," said Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt
after the meeting. He continued:
"We need a global agreement in Copenhagen which meets the two degree
goal and presents a solution for climate financing."
President Obama also took up the importance of making progress on
climate issues at a press briefing following the meeting.
"It is imperative for us to redouble our efforts in the weeks between
now and the Copenhagen meeting to assure that we create a framework
for progress in dealing with what is a potential ecologic disaster."
Afghanistan and Iran
The U.S. and the EU cooperation in Afghanistan was discussed at the
meeting. The EU has 35.000 troops in the country, and spends more than
one billion dollars each year in Afghanistan.
"We want a close strategic cooperation with the U.S," declared Prime
Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, after the meeting,
brought up how important relations with the U.S.are to improving the
situation in Afghanistan.
Regarding Iran, Prime Minister Reinfeldt mentioned that the EU and the
U.S. share the international community's concern about the country,
not the least the country's nuclear power. President Obama also
commented on Iran.
"We want Iran to accept their responsibility," the Preisdent stated.
Several decisions were made during the meeting
A series of decisions were taken at the meeting. One of them involved
the establishment of a new energy cooperation between the EU and the
U.S. and the creation of a new Energy Council. The goal is to develop
cooperation in areas such as environmental and energy technology
research and the deployment of environmentally friendly technology.
Already on Wednesday, November 4th, the Energy Council will meet for
the first time.
A decision was also made to create a working group to look into
antimicrobial resistance. The EU and the World Health Organization
list the rapid development of antimicrobial resistance as one of the
three greatest threats to human health. Together the EU and the U.S.
have good possibilities to effectively handle the issue through
research and development.
A decision on a new disarmament and non-proliferation agreement
between the EU and the U.S. was also made. The last one was from 2005.
The renewed declaration focuses more on disarmament than the previous
did, and does not contain general terrorism issues.
In the document to the right you will find information about all the
decisions which were made at the summit.
Published
04 November
00:50
Council
European Council (not council-specific)
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