This is the fourth newsletter to be issued and we would like to improve the information included. If you have any comments or if you wish to include any items for inclusion in future newsletters please e-mail me at:
duncan.ritchie@americaneuropeaninstitute.com.


US DEVELOPMENTS

2nd May: Visit to Washington of Foreign Minister Michel Barnier 
Statements made by M. Michel Barnier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, during his joint press briefing with Ms Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State of the United States of America, covering topics such as Israel/Palestine, Iran/Iraq/Lebanon, Africa, and the European Constitution.

Details at: http://www.info-france-usa.org/news/statmnts/2005/barnier_rice05.asp

Also at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/45484.htm.

A joint statement on Lebanon was also issued. Further details at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/45501.htm

3rd May: Secretary of State remarks with European Union High representative Javier Solana after their Meeting, Washington
The Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with Javier Solana. They discussed the Sudan and the African Union mission, the Middle East, Iran and Iraq.

Further details at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/45583.htm.

3rd May: Conversation between Italian Minister Fini and US Secretary of State Rice
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Gianfranco Fini had a long and cordial telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Details at: http://www.esteri.it/eng/0_1_01.asp?id=802

5th May: Secretary of State remarks With Romanian Foreign Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu after their Meeting, Washington
They had a wide-ranging discussion including Moldova and other issues about the Black Sea region.

Further details at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/45721.htm

12th May: Machine-Readable Passport Requirements To Take Effect at U.S. Borders on June 26, 2005
The Department of Homeland Security today announced that as of June 26, 2005, all persons traveling under the auspices of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) must present a machine-readable passport (MRP) to travel to the United States without a visa.

Further details at: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2005/46138.htm

17th May: Secretary of State remarks with British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw after their Meeting
They held general discussions about areas of joint interests around the world.

Further details at: http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2005/46412.htm

18th May: 2005 CONTINUES SOLID GROWTH IN INTERNATIONAL VISITATION LEVELS TO THE US
The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that 5.2 million international visitors travelled to the United States during the first two months of 2005, an increase of 7 percent over the same period in 2004. Arrivals were up by 10 percent in January and up by more than 4 percent in February.

Details at: http://www.ita.doc.gov/media/PressReleases/0505/tourism_051805.html

19th May: EU and US hold high-level dialogue on border and transport security
The third EU-US meeting of the Policy Dialogue on Border and Transport Security took place in Brussels. Discussions included, biometric travel documents, document security, visa policy, passenger name records (PNR), transport and customs, together with preparation of the EU-US Summit to be held in Washington on 20 June.

Details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/570&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

20th May: President Bush Meets with Greek Prime Minister Karamanlis in Washington
Details at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050520-3.html

20th May President Bush Meets with Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen in Washington
Details at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050520-1.html

EU DEVELOPMENTS


3rd May: Mariann Fischer Boel, Member of the European Commission responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development, Speaking Points on WTO Agricultural Negotiations Meeting with FIPs Paris.
Discussed the substance of the agricultural negotiations, and configuration of the FIPs.

Details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/268&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

5th May: European Commission welcomes breakthrough in WTO agriculture talks
The European Commission welcomed a significant breakthrough in the agricultural chapter of the Doha Development Agenda negotiations. Meeting in Paris, trade ministers from 30 members of the World Trade Organisation gave their broad backing to a formula for unblocking discussions on market access for agricultural products.

Details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/545&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

5th May: EU REPRESENTATIVES WELCOME CREATION OF EU CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS
European Union representatives welcomed the creation of the first-ever bipartisan Congressional EU Caucus at a reception in the US House of Representatives Rayburn Building, hosted by the Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Details at: http://www.eurunion.org/news/press/2005/2005048.htm

5th May: Mr Olli Rehn Member of the European Commission, responsible for Enlargement speech on "Prioritisation: where should Turkey focus its energies" Forum Istanbul.
Mr Olli concluded that Turkey would cope with the challenges and pave the way for becoming an equal and respected member of the European Union

Full Speech at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/271&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

8th May: President Participates in Youth Roundtable in the Netherlands
President Bush and Prime Minister Balkenende in a general discussion with Dutch students.

Full details at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/05/20050508-1.html

10th May: Minister Fini meets with members of the National Italian American Foundation
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Gianfranco Fini met today at the foreign ministry with several members of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF).

Details at: http://www.esteri.it/eng/0_1_01.asp?id=820

11th May: Afghanistan: How EU support is making a real difference
Since the fall of the Taliban, the stabilisation of Afghanistan has been a major external priority for the European Union. The European Union (EU) has been a key supporter of Afghanistan’s transition, providing substantial political, military and humanitarian and reconstruction aid.

Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/156&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

12th May: EU-US Joint Statement on Somalia
The United States and the European Union welcome Somali efforts to conclude an agreement on the relocation of the Somali Transitional Federal Institutions to Somalia.

Details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=PESC/05/43&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

13th May: European Commission President Barroso: "The EU and the US: A Bilateral Partnership for Global Solutions," Council on Foreign Relations, New York
“As prosperous, free and influential parts of the world, the United States and Europe cannot escape their common responsibility for global security and prosperity."

Details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/276&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

17th May: Minister Fini presided over a farewell lunch in honour of the US Ambassador to Italy
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Gianfranco Fini presided today over a farewell lunch in honour of US Ambassador to Italy Mel Sembler, who is about to leave Rome.

Details at: http://www.esteri.it/eng/0_1_01.asp?id=838

18th May: EU-US partnership: Commission proposals to strengthen economic and political relations
The Commission has adopted a Communication entitled “A stronger EU-US Partnership and a more Open Market for the 21st century”. This contains a wide range of practical policy proposals for a joint EU-US strategy to boost economic integration, and to strengthen the broader framework of EU–US relations. The proposals are in advance of the EU-US Summit in June. The overall goal is to promote transatlantic trade and investment and stimulate economic growth.

Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/us/news/ip05_573.htm

29th May 2005 - PARLIAMENTARIAN CALLS FOR CLOSER TIES BETWEEN NATO – EUROPEAN UNION (EU) AND UNITED NATIONS (UN)
A leading NATO parliamentarian called for closer ties between NATO, the European Union and the United Nations in order for the enlarged North Atlantic Alliance to meet the challenges of increasing “out of area” operations.

Details at: http://www.nato-pa.int/Default.asp?CAT2=0&CAT1=0&CAT0=0&SHORTCUT=704


TRADE ISSUES


17th May: The United States to contribute US$ 992,000 to WTO technical assistance
The United States Government pledged a contribution of US$ 992,000 (CHF 1.2 million) to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund for 2005.

Details at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres05_e/pr405_e.htm

19th May WTO Secretariat reports declines in both new anti-dumping investigations and new final anti-dumping measures
The WTO Secretariat reported that in the period 1 July-31 December 2004, both the number of initiations of new anti-dumping investigations, and the number of new final anti-dumping measures applied, showed substantial declines compared with the corresponding period of 2003.

Details at: http://www.wto.org/english/news_e/pres05_e/pr406_e.htm

23rd May: Peter Mandelson, EU Trade Commissioner, Remarks to the Trade Committee of the European Parliament
Speech includes a mention of EU-US Negotiations on Large Civil Aircraft.

Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/295&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

26th May: Trade promotion agencies announce 2005 national export strategy
The U.S. Department of Commerce released its 2005 National Export Strategy. The Strategy focuses U.S. government trade promotion program efforts to help American small businesses take advantage of market openings with our new free trade agreement (FTA) partners. It also identifies areas of future growth for U.S. exports, highlighting seven key geographic markets and identifying industry sectors within them that are likely to experience export growth over the coming years.

Details at: http://www.ita.doc.gov/media/PressReleases/0505/nes_052605.html

30th May: United States Takes Next Step in Airbus WTO Litigation Washington
As the EU Member States preparing to commit $1.7 billion in new risk-free launch aid subsidies for Airbus, the United States announced that it will file a request for the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement panel to resolve the dispute. The panel request will be filed on Tuesday, May 31.

http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/May/United_States_Takes_Next_Step_in_Airbus_WTO_Litigation.html

Joint Statement of USTR Rob Portman and EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson Regarding the dispute over Airbus/Boeing and the WTO.

Details at: http://www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Press_Releases/2005/May/Joint_Statement_of_USTR_Rob_Portman_EU_Trade_Commissioner_Peter_Melson_Regarding_the_dispute_over_Airbus-Boeing_the_W.html

31st May: EU resumes WTO case against Boeing
The United States has decided to request formal dispute settlement procedures in the WTO against alleged subsidies provided to Airbus by four EU Member States (France, Germany, Spain and the UK). Responding to this decision, the EU has decided to call on the WTO to adjudicate the legality of subsidies granted to Boeing.

Full details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/638&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

31st May: Peter Mandelson EU Trade Commissioner Statement on Boeing, Airbus and the WTO, 2005
Details at: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/05/310&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en