Paris, 2 June 2009 – The European Security and Defence Assembly (ESDA/AWEU) invited the member states of the European Union on Tuesday to seize the opportunities offered by the Obama Administration for transatlantic foreign and security policy cooperation.

In his report, “New opportunities for EU-US foreign and security policy cooperation”, tabled on behalf of the Political Committee, Mr Jordi Xuclà i Costa, Rapporteur (Spain, Liberal Group), said that the election of Mr Obama had “brought a wind of change in international relations” and “opened up new opportunities for transatlantic cooperation”.

Referring to the “plethora of initiatives” launched by the new President of the United States, his “desire to repair America’s image” and his willingness “to talk to enemies and adversaries” such as Cuba and Iran, the Rapporteur called on the Assembly to “encourage European governments to take advantage of this unprecedented moment” and become a full “partner the United States can count on”. Unlike the Bush Administration, Mr Obama is committed to the “principles of multilateralism” consistently championed by Europe. “Today, Europe is obliged to take on board the new American strategy. It must assume its responsibilities and meet the dynamism of the new administration with a more concerted, more capable and more resolute response”. Europe must be ready to accept risks.

During the debate, representatives of the Assembly’s political groups endorsed the main lines of the report, but warned against excessive optimism in the wake of Barack Obama’s election. On behalf of the Socialist Group, Lord Anderson of Swansea (United Kingdom) observed that “the mood music […] is very good, but […] history will judge […] not by mood music but by results”. Mike Hancock (United Kingdom), Chairman of the Liberal Group, expressed his disappointment at the “ignorance” shown within the American Administration as to European positions, in particular vis-à-vis Russia. He felt that “American wants Europe to be involved on American terms. That is a flaw in America’s foreign policy”. Mr Hancock also questioned the American and European response to Afghanistan and commented on their failure “to learn enough about the sensibilities and culture” of the place. For Giacomo Santini (Italy), speaking on behalf of the Federated Group, there was still no real answer to Henry Kissinger’s famous question “Whom do I phone when I want to talk to Europe?” In his view, “after the honeymoon”, Barack Obama was now about to face an “ordeal by fire” in dealing with Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A number of amendments had been put forward by the Political Committee, notably on Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Assembly expressed its concern at the lack of progress in establishing a Palestinian national unity government. Some parliamentarians also raised the problems posed by Israeli settlements which if unresolved left “no prospects for peace”.