Home / Europe 2020 / Seminar GlobalEurope 2 / EU-North America

Seminar GlobalEurope 2 / EU-North America

The Hague (Clingendael Institute), January 28, 2004
28/01/2004

Organised in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Concept

Relations between EU and North America are the central strategic axis of international relations in the coming decades. Those two continents represent both the greatest democratic groups in the world and the richest economic areas on the planet. From their capacity to build common approaches on global issues and to solve their disagreements in a growing number of fields, will depend a large part of future international relations.

Each continent is involved in a process of regional integration (EU and NAFTA) albeit with quite different objectives though. Made up of three states only, North America will remain for the three coming decades an entity in which each part will conduct specific relations with the EU. For the EU the challenge is to define a common policy vis-à-vis that great economic and human group, while preserving the diversity of US-, Canada- and Mexico- related problematics.

In parallel to this, the United-States’ central position on the global checker, and therefore the global impact of the United-States’ attitudes/decisions/reactions, requires from the Europeans to constantly compare their positions vis-à-vis the United-States with their options regarding global governance.

The extent of the interests shared by the two continents (economy, trade, security…) and the existence of numerous common values (democracy, market economy) create a natural trend to intensive cooperation; but at the same time result in many frictions in those fields where the two entities are in competition.

To reinforce cooperation, to reduce frictions, to recognize the existence of a common European approach and to stimulate the emergence of common replies to new challenges, here are some central questions for consideration in this seminar, altogether aimed at identifying the main axes of a Common European policy towards North America.


Programme

9.00 – Welcome of participants

9.15 – Opening session

. Introduction by Franck Biancheri, Director of Research and Strategy, Europe 2020

. Opening speech by Frank Majoor, Secretary-General of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs

. Opening speech by H. E. Clifford Sobel, Ambassador of the US in The Netherlands – Read the speech

10.00 – Theme 1 – International multilateral system: European strategies for reform ?

North America and Europe are the main architects of the post-war multilateral system (from Security Council to WTO). However, this system requires structural reforms in order to adapt to shifts in the balance of power and to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Can the EU and North America develop a common approach for reforming the international multilateral system? Could this be applied to the reform of the UN? Does the EU have a common vision of global governance? And is this vision compatible with the North American position? What are the roles of the various multilateral organizations, such as the UN, OSCE, NATO, EU? What are their positions vis-à-vis one another ?

Introduction to the theme by:

. Prof. Roman Kuzniar, Head of Diplomatic Academy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Warsaw

. Adrian Taylor, Vice-President, Tiesweb

Debate

11.00 – Break

11.30 – Theme 2 – Security & Defence: Axes of future transatlantic cooperation in the field of security and defence

North America and Western Europe have shared a common security and defence destiny for the past 60 years. The end of Cold War enabled the countries of Central Europe to share this common destiny. At the same time, the nature of the threat to North American and European security has changed drastically. How can NATO be adapted to face the new security challenges? Can the EU bear more of the burden for its defense as well as assume a role in promoting global security? How to fit the EU security and defense policy in the NATO framework? How can synergies be created between the respective European and US-security-strategies ?

Introduction to the theme

. Annalisa Giannella, Personal representative of the High Representative for the non-proliferation of MDW, EU Council

. Pierre Dubuisson, Head of North America Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brussels

Debate

12.45 – Luncheon

14.30 – Theme 3 – Trade: Transatlantic commercial tensions and European interests

With the failure of the Cancun meeting, it is becoming increasingly likely that the Doha Trade Round will face at least a considerable delay. In the meantime, the number of trade disputes between EU and US is rising, with some leading to retaliation measures. Will the EU and US abide by the multilateral trade system and implement panel decisions or will they continue retaliation and opt for bilateral and regional (preferential) agreements? What are the prospects of liberalization of world trade, considering the dramatic failure of Cancun? Will the EU and US be able to re-launch the negotiations within the Doha Development Round ?

Introduction to the theme by:

. Prof. Mihaly Simai, Research Professor, Institute for World Economics of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences

. Anastassios Vikas, Deputy Director General, DG External Economic Affairs & CFSP, EU Council

Debate

15.30 – Break

16.00 – Theme 4 – Fight against terrorism: transatlantic cooperation and European goals

The fight against terrorism is one of the main challenges that North America and the EU are currently facing. Do the EU and North America agree on means and ends of the fight against terrorism? How can the EU and North America improve their cooperation in this field (police and intelligence)? Which influence would this co-operation have on national legislation? Should changes to national legislation be coordinated? How can the effectiveness of the instrument of the UN and EU-lists be improved? And how to improve the decision-making process concerning these lists? How should bottlenecks in investigation and prosecution be solved ?

Introduction to the theme by:

. Hans Guenter Brauch, Chairman AFES-Press: Nonmilitary environmental security challenges for Europe and North America from the MENA region

Debate

17.00 – Work-synthesis

17.30 – Closing speech by Mr Willem van Eekelen, former Netherlands State-Secretary for Defense and Secretary General of the Western European Union

18.00 – End of the seminar


Participants

. S. E. M. Serge April, Ambassadeur du Canada aux Pays-Bas

. Zoltan Banyasz, Chef de mission adjoin et Envoyé, Ambassade de Hongrie aux Pays-Bas

. Mark Beunderman, Journaliste, EUObserver, Amsterdam

. Franck Biancheri, Directeur des études et de la stratégie, Europe 2020

. Martyn Bond, Directeur, Federal Trust, London

. Norbert Both, Rédacteur discours, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, La Haye

. Hans Guenter Brauch, Président AFES-Press, Berlin

. S.E. M. Kåre Bryn, Ambassador of Norway in The Netherlands

. S. E. M. Iulian Buga, Ambassadeur de Roumanie aux Pays-Bas

. Marie-Hélène Caillol, Vice-Présidente, Europe 2020

. Maria Chojnacka, Etudiante Ecole Nationale d’Administration, Paris

. Mary Daly, Conseiller Affaires Politiques, Ambassade des Etats-Unis aux Pays-Bas

. Sandra Daubure, 2nd Secrétaire, Département Politique UE, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Riga

. Adrian Davidoiu, Chef de l’unité PESC, Direction Générale UE, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Bucarest

. Pierre Dubuisson, Chef du département Amérique du Nord, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Bruxelles

. Willem van Eekelen, Ancien Secrétaire d’Etat à la Défense des Pays-Bas, et ancien Secrétaire Général de l’UEO

. François Gave, Conseiller de presse et questions européennes, Ambassade de France aux Pays-Bas

. Nis Gellert, Ched de section, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Copenhague

. Annalisa Giannella, Représentant Personnel du Haut Représentant pour la non-prolifération des armes de destruction massives, Conseil de l’UE

. Georgeta Grama, Coordinatrice, Tiesweb

. Harald Greib, Vice-Président, Europe 2020

. Brigadier General Gustav Gustenau, Directeur adjoint de la Direction Générale pour la Politique de Sécurité, Ministère de la Défense, Vienne

. Jean Guyot, Président de la Fondation Hippocrène

. Daan Huisinga, DG Coopération européenne – Unité de Prospective Stratégique, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, La Haye

. Nikolaos Kanellos, Premier Conseiller, Ambassade de Grèce aux Pays-Bas

. Marzena Kisielewska, Directeur de Cabinet du Ministre des Affaires européennes, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Varsovie

. Anatole Dimitrov Kossev, Officier de liaison bulgare à Europol, Conseiller Affaires Police et Sécurité à l’Ambassade de Bulgarie aux Pays-Bas

. M. Koenig, Ambassade d’Allemagne aux Pays-Bas

. Ivan Krastev, Président, Centre for Liberal Strategies, Sofia

. Marnix Krop, Directeur Général pour la Coopération Européenne, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, La Haye

. Bart Kruitwagen, LLM, Directeur de Caisson Industrial BV

. Petr Kubernát, Ambassadeur de la République Tchèque aux Pays-Bas

. Prof. Roman Kuzniar, Directeur de l’Académie Diplomatique, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Varsovie

. S. E. Mme Baiba Laizane, Ambassadeur de Lettonie aux Pays-Bas

. Fred Lafeber, Chef du Département pour l’élargissement et le Conseil de l’Europe, Ministère de la Santé, du Bien-Etre et des Sports, La Haye

. Kaying Lau, Chargé Affaires Politiques, Division de l’Hémisphère Occidental, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, La Haye

. Jaak Lensnent, Conseiller, Ambassade d’Estonie aux Pays-Bas

. Roberto Liotto, Premier Conseiller, Ambassade d’Italie aux Pays-Bas

. Leena Liukkonen, Conseiller, Unité Amérique du Nord, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Helsinki

. Thomas Loidl, Bureau Amérique du Nord, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Vienne

. Frank Majoor, Secrétaire Général du Ministère des Affaires étrangères, La Haye

. François D. Maridor, Analyse des risques et vulnérabilités, Direction de la politique de Sécurité, Bern

. H. E. Mr Jan Michalowski, Ambassadeur de Pologne aux Ministère des Affaires étrangères

. Sebastian Mitrache, Second Secrétaire, Ambassade de Roumanie aux Pays-Bas

. Patryk Pawlak, Chargé de mission, Europe 2020

. S. E. M. Valentin Poriazov, Ambassadeur de Bulgarie aux Pays-Bas

. Patrice Robineau, Secrétaire exécutif adjoint, Commission économique pour l’Europe, Nations Unies, Genève

. Yvonne Ruijters, DG Coopération européenne – Unité de Prospective Stratégique, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, La Haye

. Yvon Saint-Hilaire, Conseiller économique, Ambassade du Canada aux Pays-Bas

. S. E. M. João Salgueiro, Ambassadeur du Portugal aux Pays-Bas

. Gregor Schusterschitz, Ministre Conseiller, Ambassade d’Autriche aux Pays-Bas

. Maris Selga, Directeur du second département politique, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, Riga

. Prof. Mihaly Simai, Professeur-Chercheur, Institut d’Economie Mondiale, Académie des Sciences de Hongrie, Budapest

. S. E. M. Björn Skala, Ambassadeur de Suède aux Pays-Bas

. S. E. M. Clifford M. Sobel, Ambassadeur des Etats-Unis aux Pays-Bas

. Norma Suarez Paniagua, Premier Secrétaire, Ambassade du Mexique aux Pays-Bas

. Colonel Henri Switzer, Attaché de défense, Ambassade de France aux Pays-Bas

. Adrian Taylor, Directeur Think Tools GMBH Munich / Vice-Président Tiesweb

. Slawomir Tokarski, Directeur, Département d’analyse socio-économique, Bureau du Comité à l’Intégration européenne, Varsovie

. S. E. M. Townsend, Ambassadeur d’Irlande aux Pays-Bas

. Anastassios Vikas, Directeur Général Adjoint, DG E – DG Affaires économiques extérieures et PESC, Conseil de l’UE

. Andreas Wannemacher, Conseiller, Chef de l’organisation et de la gestion de la recherche, DG Politique de Sécurité, Vienne

. Edmund Wellenstein, Ancien Directeur-Général (Commerce Extérieur et ancienne DG Relations Extérieures), Commission européenne

. Taco Westerhuis, Chargé Affaires politiques, Division de l’Hémisphère Occidentale, Ministère des Affaires étrangères, La Haye

. Kami Witmer, Chargé Affaires Politiques, Ambassade des Etats-Unis aux Pays-Bas

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