Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)

The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has put forward an interesting set of proposals, which are currently being studied in my Department. Nobody can dispute that the relationship between the European Union and the US is our most important strategic partnership. This remains the case, whatever the personalities or political forces on either side.

As regards the idea of a transatlantic political council, I point out that relations between the EU and the US are already structured through a number of institutional arrangements. The most important of these, in political terms, is the EU-US Summit where the Presidency, European Commission President and High Representative meet the President of the United States. The next summit will take place in June and will pursue some of the issues raised at the informal summit which took place in Prague earlier this month with the participation of all members of the European Council, including the Taoiseach. Given the time and resources devoted to the summits, it is essential that they should be events of substance, leading to significant outcomes for both sides. It is important to bear in mind that any changes in structures would require the assent of the US side. There is no evidence at present that they see a need for additional summit meetings.

The Transatlantic Economic Council, established in 2007, also has an important role to play in strengthening economic and commercial relations between the EU and the US. It can play a particularly useful role in the current international economic climate. I am confident that council has an important role to play in promoting transatlantic economic integration to the benefit of both sides.

As regards a joint parliamentary committee, contacts and institutional arrangements between the European Parliament and the US Congress are a matter for those bodies to agree between themselves. Nevertheless, I am conscious of the important role which inter-parliamentary contacts can have in promoting understanding of international issues and raising awareness among parliamentarians. I appreciate there is scope for development of the transatlantic legislators dialogue and would welcome efforts of parliamentarians on both sides in this direction.

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