U.S.-European Union Relations and the 2007 Summit Page: 4 of 6
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CRS-4
face a much more complicated task today in getting the rest of the world to accept any
agreement the United States and the EU might reach. Developing countries in particular
are much more vociferous in their expectations and demands than they were in previous
multilateral trade talks.
Energy Security and Climate Change. At their March 2007 summit meeting,
European leaders agreed to implement an EU energy policy focused largely on slowing
global climate change. In addition to establishing binding targets for the use of renewable
energy and biofuels, EU members committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least
20% compared to 1990 levels by 2020. Building on this agreement, European officials
are reportedly seeking U.S. support for an international treaty regulating greenhouse gas
emissions after 2012, when the U.N. Kyoto Protocol is set to expire, and for an
international market-based carbon emissions credit trading system. The United States is
not party to the Kyoto Protocol, and U.S. officials appear reluctant to commit to global
regulation; instead, they advocate transatlantic cooperation to promote alternative and
clean energy technology. In light of the differences on global climate change regulation,
the United States and EU are expected to use the April 2007 summit to launch initiatives
jointly promoting technological advances in biofuels, energy efficiency, methane
recovery, and clean coal and carbon capture and storage. Although European officials
agree with the United States that these technologies should help to improve transatlantic
energy security and to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, they are reportedly
disappointed with a perceived U.S. reluctance to pursue international emissions and
energy efficiency targets. U.S. officials point out that from 2000-2004, carbon dioxide
emissions increased at a faster rate in the EU than in the United States and so argue that
the U.S. approach, based on fostering technological innovation as opposed to binding
regulation, is proving more effective.3
At the last U.S.-EU Summit in June 2006, U.S. and European leaders committed to
promoting cooperation on energy security, climate change, and sustainable development.
The parties established three institutional mechanisms to facilitate this cooperation: an
annual strategic review of U.S.-EU energy cooperation; a U.S.-EU High Level Dialogue
on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development; and a U.S.-EU Energy
CEO Forum. Each forum has convened once since the 2006 summit. However, most
observers agree that little if any tangible progress has been made in advancing
transatlantic cooperation in this area. U.S. and European officials appear confident,
however, that the 2007 Summit will result in more concrete commitments to jointly
promote clean and alternative energy production technologies.
The Middle East. Over the last few years, the United States and many EU
members have differed sharply on policies toward Iraq, Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, and democracy promotion in the Middle East. Recently, however, the two sides
seem to have found more common ground on some of these issues. EU officials continue
to urge the Bush Administration to "do more" to get Israeli-Palestinian negotiations back
on track, but appear encouraged by renewed U.S. diplomatic initiatives and note that
Washington has backed Germany's efforts, as part of its EU presidency, to revitalize the
3 "EU and U.S. Head for Climate Change Clash," European Voice, Mar. 29, 2007; Discussions
with U.S. and German officials. Also see CRS Report RL33636, The European Union's Energy
Security Challenges, by Paul Belkin and Vince Morelli.
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U.S.-European Union Relations and the 2007 Summit, report, April 13, 2007; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc806259/m1/4/: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.