Thread: Framework for Advancing TransAtlantic Economic intergration

Since this has to do with the United states, I will post it here.


Framework for Advancing Transatlantic Economic Integration Between the [US and EU]



We, leaders of the United States of America and the European Union (EU):


Believing that deeper transatlantic economic integration and growth will benefit our citizens and the competitiveness of our economies, will have global benefits, will facilitate market access for third countries and will encourage other countries to adopt the transatlantic economic model of respect for property rights, openness to investment, transparency and predictability in regulation, and the value of free markets;


Affirming our shared commitment to increase the transparency and efficiency of our economic cooperation and to accelerate the reduction of barriers to international trade and investment;


Desiring to improve the effectiveness of existing economic cooperation and to elevate and accelerate existing work to achieve tangible progress;


Recognizing that the transatlantic economy remains at the forefront of globalization, and that the United States and the European Union are each other's most important economic partners, reflecting historical ties as well as a wide range of common fundamental values, such as the importance of free enterprise, rule of law, property rights, free trade, and competition, and the protection of health, safety and the environment for our citizens and workers;


Reaffirming our commitment to the 2005 U.S.-EU Summit Declaration on Enhancing Transatlantic Economic Integration and Growth, in which we resolved to pursue a forward-looking agenda to enhance transatlantic economic integration and growth, and our commitments from the June 2006 Summit to redouble our efforts to reduce barriers to transatlantic trade and investment and our pledge to keep our investment regimes open and to build on existing investment flows to boost growth and create jobs in the transatlantic economy;


Recognizing further that we have established a wide range of joint work in the areas of regulatory cooperation, financial markets, trade and transport security, innovation and technological development, intellectual property rights, energy, investment, competition, services, and government procurement;


Welcoming the launch of a study funded by the European Commission to identify existing barriers to trade and investment and estimate the benefits of removing such barriers.


Have reached the following shared understandings:


Section I Purposes


We seek to strengthen transatlantic economic integration, with the goal of improving competitiveness and the lives of our people. To that end, this Framework reaffirms a multi-year program of cooperation that emphasizes results and provides accountability.


Section II
Fostering Cooperation and Reducing Regulatory Burdens


In light of our shared commitment to removing barriers to transatlantic commerce; to rationalizing, reforming, and, where appropriate, reducing regulations to empower the private sector; to achieving more effective, systematic and transparent regulatory cooperation to reduce costs associated with regulation to consumers and producers; to removing unnecessary differences between our regulations to foster economic integration; to reinforce the existing transatlantic dialogue structures in regulatory cooperation both by intensifying our sector-by-sector EU-U.S. regulatory cooperation and our dialogue between the U.S. Office of Management and Budget and European Commission services on methodological issues: we resolve to achieve the goals set out in Annex 1 in a timely manner.


Section III
Lighthouse Priority Projects


We have identified in Annex 2 priority growth projects, selected from the existing work program and other programs within the existing transatlantic dialogue, that will significantly enhance transatlantic economic integration, and we resolve to achieve progress on these projects within six to eight months of the effective date of this Framework, and at latest by the time of the 2008 EU-U.S. Summit. We resolve that future priorities are to be reflected by updating the Lighthouse Priority Projects identified in Annex 2.


Section IV
Transatlantic Economic Council


The Transatlantic Economic Council is hereby established, to be co-chaired, on the U.S. side, by a U.S. Cabinet-level official in the Executive Office of the President (currently Allan Hubbard) and on the EU side by a Member of the European Commission (currently Vice President Guenter Verheugen), collaborating closely with the EU Presidency. The Council is to:


1. Oversee the efforts outlined in this Framework, with the goal of accelerating progress;
2. Guide work between U.S.-EU Summits with a focus on achieving results, including setting goals for achieving the purposes of this Framework, developing metrics, setting deadlines and targets, and monitoring progress;
3. Adopt a work program, drawn initially from the existing work program under the 2005 U.S.-EC Economic Initiative, with the goal of achieving the objectives of this Framework, and shall adapt this work program and otherwise organize its activities in the manner best suited to achieving those objectives;
4. Review at least semi-annually its progress in achieving the objectives of this Framework;
5. Facilitate joint action under this Framework to advance its purposes;
6. Review ongoing U.S.-EU economic engagement in order to maximize progress in existing transatlantic dialogues with a view to consider phasing out technical dialogues that have completed their work or are otherwise no longer necessary;
7. Meet at least once a year at such time as the co-chairs decide;
8. Oversee preparation of annual reports to the U.S.-EU Summit leaders on goals, metrics for meeting those goals, deadlines, achievements, and areas where more progress is needed;
9. Facilitate closer cooperation between the United States and European Union and our legislators and stakeholders;
10. Convene a group comprised of individuals experienced in transatlantic issues drawing in particular from the heads of existing transatlantic dialogues to provide input and guidance to the U.S.-EU Summit on priorities for pursuing transatlantic economic integration; and
11. Include representatives of other governmental entities as the Council determines to be appropriate.



Section V
Work Program of Cooperation


We resolve to work to promote transatlantic economic integration in the following areas: intellectual property rights, investment, secure trade, financial markets, and innovation as set forth in the attached Annexes 2-7.


Signed at Washington, D.C., on this thirtieth day of April, 2007, in three originals.


FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
George W. Bush
President

FOR THE EUROPEAN UNION:

Angela Merkel
President of the European Council


José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission


Annex 1
Fostering Cooperation and Reducing Regulatory Burdens


A. Take the following steps to reduce barriers to transatlantic economic integration posed by new regulations by reinforcing the existing transatlantic dialogue structures:


1. Pursue development of a methodological framework to help ensure the comparability of impact assessments, particularly risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis;
2. Appoint heads of regulatory authorities as permanent members of the U.S. - EU High-Level Regulatory Cooperation Forum to report on any risks or benefits from significant differences in regulatory approaches identified in the sectoral dialogues or the European Commission Secretariat General (EC)-U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) dialogue called for under the 2005 U.S.-EU Economic Initiative, recognizing that the Financial Markets Regulatory Dialogue will continue its own, separate, work program described in Annex 6, and updating the Council on its progress as appropriate.
3. Reinforce the existing transatlantic dialogue on regulatory cooperation by cooperating to improve regulation, specifically through cooperation between OMB and the EC to:


a) Taking into account, among other things, the impact assessment considerations in place, evaluate progress regarding this cooperation, and consider a more formal basis to enhance this cooperation;


b) Intensify their dialogue focusing on issues of methodology;


c) Hold regular and active exchanges on the overall framework of our regulatory co-operation and on methodological issues which may arise in individual cases;


d) Review the application of their respective regulatory impact analysis guidelines so that the regulatory impacts on trade and investment are considered, as appropriate; and


e) Share forward planning schedules.


B. Take the following steps to reduce barriers to transatlantic economic integration posed by regulations in specific sectors by intensifying sector-by-sector regulatory cooperation, including through enhanced EC-OMB cooperation, including the following:


1. Encourage further cooperation in the areas of agriculture, sanitary and phyto-sanitary measures, and food safety;
2. Promote the application of the 2002 U.S.-EU Guidelines for Regulatory Cooperation and Transparency for specific sectoral pilot projects to be determined in consultation with stakeholders. We agree to discuss additional pilot projects on a case-by-case basis for exploring improved US-EU regulatory cooperation.
3. Pursue implementation of the Roadmap for Regulatory Cooperation, including the following priority projects to be pursued in 2007 and 2008:


a) Collaborating on cosmetics regulations, in particular with a view to reducing the need for animal tests by cooperating on alternative testing methods;
b) Seeking final agreement between U.S. and EU regulators on shifting resources away from implementation of the Medical Device Annex of the Mutual Recognition Agreement between the United States and the European Community to a more productive bilateral collaboration on medical devices;


c) Promoting administrative simplification in the application of regulation of medicinal products;


d) Addressing common concerns in the automotive sector in the area of road safety and fuel economy in order to avoid or reduce barriers to transatlantic trade;


e) Expanding cooperation on OECD activities relating to risk assessment, Good Laboratory Practices and the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, study templates, information technology for data submissions, as well as on alternative test methods (QSAR), test methods and risks of manufactured nanomaterials; and


f) Initiating an exchange on conformity assessment procedures for the safety of electrical equipment.


Annex 2 Lighthouse Priority Projects


A. Intellectual Property Rights. Develop procedures for the exchange of information relating to goods suspected of infringing intellectual property rights, the exchange of customs officials, and the organisation of joint technical assistance and/or enforcement missions and seek progress in the harmonisation of the different patent regimes.
B. Secure trade. Develop common and accepted standards to maximize security, safety and facilitation of international trade supply chain that could lead to mutual recognition of programs for economic operators. Begin to exchange information on validation results associated with the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism and Authorized Economic Operator programs in order to avoid the duplication of controls and to reduce business costs by avoiding divergent control requirements, as appropriate.
C. Financial Markets. Promote and seek to ensure conditions for the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards to be recognized in both jurisdictions without the need for reconciliation by 2009 or possibly sooner.
D. Innovation and Technology.


1. Conduct a high-level conference on innovation in health-related industries and a workshop on best practices in innovation policies;


2. Develop a joint framework for cooperation on identification and development of best practices for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies and develop a work plan to promote the interoperability of electronic health record systems;


3. Develop a science-based work plan for EU-U.S. collaboration on innovative and eco-efficient biobased products;


4. Establish a joint research infrastructure for mouse functional genomics (following a joint meeting in 2007 in Belgium);


5. Sponsor joint workshops or conferences to foster the exchange of information on nanotechnology in areas of mutual interest.


E. Investment. Establish a regular dialogue to address obstacles to investment


Annex 3
Intellectual Property Rights


In order to enhance recognition and enforcement of intellectual property rights, we resolve to:


A. Cooperate on improving the efficiency and the effectiveness of the patent system at the global level to promote innovation, employment, and competitiveness, and seek progress in the harmonisation of the different patent regimes;
B. Implement the EU-U.S. Action Strategy on Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement, including stepping up joint efforts in all areas, in particular:


a. Continue to advance a constructive discussion of enforcement at the WTO TRIPS Council and to explore other possible vehicles for advancing international cooperation on IPR enforcement among countries sharing common interests in this area;


b. Strengthen customs cooperation, including exchange of information relating to goods suspected of infringing intellectual property rights and statistics on the seizures of such goods, as well as programs to exchange officials and best practices;


c. Work jointly to improve the IPR protection and enforcement in China and Russia, increase cooperation in Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, including the extension of the IPR networks to these regions;


d. Expand joint technical assistance initiatives in Asia and Latin America, including the organization of work shops, seminars and on-site training; and


e. Improve public-private coordination and cooperation on anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy education, public awareness and business practices.


Annex 4
Investment


In order to reduce barriers to transatlantic trade and investment, keep investment regimes open, and build on existing investment flows to boost growth and create jobs, we resolve to:


A. Continue close co-operation in the OECD with regard to studying and fostering policy reforms that are conducive to attracting investment;
B. Engage in regular discussions of laws, policies and practices that could impact investments in the EU and the United States;
C. Develop work to prevent, eliminate or reduce the impact from investment barriers, with special attention being given to small and medium-sized enterprises.



Annex 5
Secure Trade


As common standards and mutual recognition of standards where possible in trade partnership programs can strengthen security of the supply chain against terrorist exploitation or commercial fraud, such as counterfeiting while improving efficiency by eliminating redundant reviews, we resolve to:


A. Work together to improve international enforcement in the fight against fraud and illegal spam and spyware in view of the enactment of the Undertaking Spam, Spyware and Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders Act of 2006 (US SAFE WEB Act) in the United States and adoption of the EU Consumer Protection Regulation.
B. Establish a pilot project to study the similarities and differences in requirements for the U.S. and EU's respective trade partnership programs with the goal of developing a roadmap to facilitate mutual recognition of those operators that are authorized as secure on the basis of mutually acceptable security standards and requirements; and
C. Strive to ensure that any mutually recognized trade partnership programs provide comparable benefits to the other Party's recognized operators.


Annex 6
Financial Markets


In light of the considerable differences that exist between financial market structure and regulation on both sides of the Atlantic, and given the consolidation underway globally and transatlantically in this sector, we resolve to take steps, towards the convergence, equivalence or mutual recognition, where appropriate, of regulatory standards based on high quality principles. In particular, we resolve to maintain the existing informal Financial Markets Regulatory Dialogue and focus on the following areas:


A. Strengthen cooperation to promote smooth implementation of the Basel II framework for banks, notably to address transitional issues and minimize differences of implementation between the EU and United States;
B. Promote conditions for the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and International Financial Reporting Standards to be recognized in both jurisdictions without the need for reconciliation by 2009 or possibly sooner;
C. Fully support roadmap discussions between the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and the European Commission in the area of auditor oversight;
D. Advance convergence in the area of reinsurance regulation;
E. Work on greater regulatory convergence towards highest quality and most effective regulation and, where appropriate, mutual recognition in the fields of securities regulation; and
F. Increase cooperation between EU and U.S. financial regulators.


Annex 7
Innovation and Technology


Acknowledging the importance of research and innovation to promoting competitiveness and improving qualify of life, we resolve to:


A. Conduct an exchange of innovation experts to discuss best practices;
B. Exchange views on policy options for emerging technologies, or new technological applications, in particular in the field of nanotechnology, cloning or biotechnologies;
C. Explore possibility to launch common research actions paving the way to a level playing field for nanotechnology-based products in the globalised market, namely co- and pre-normative research;
D. Reinforce cooperation on eAccessibility, including continued EC participation in the U.S. Access Board process of standards revision, ensuring U.S. participation in the European standards-making process on public procurements on eAccessibility, and considering wider cooperation to improve the accessibility and mobility in the built environment;
E. Work together on interoperability of electronic health record systems;
F. Exchange best practices on all dimensions related to RFID;
G. Develop a framework of regulation and payment policies that promote innovation;
H. Exchange knowledge and experience on the use of information and communication technologies to improve traffic safety;
I. Launch our Standards Dialogue as an overarching framework to discuss specific standards-related issues; and
J. Collaborate on innovation indicators and how data helps policymakers understand what drives innovation and its affects on economic performance.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases ... 430-4.html

Like we don't already don't have bad food and enough trouble, they went to do this? These people are discusing.

Here it is folks. The grand plan for one world government!

The North American union and the European union. They are setting up frame work for "union" or block state governments. Also they are working on building even bigger governments to pull them together. They went a world government. South America is already setting up Union of south American nations, and Asean or SACC went to set up one for Asia. African union and Eu have already starting to set up.

This is very real.

Press Briefing by Senior Administration Officials on the U.S.-EU Summit


Via Conference Call
Washington, DC
April 30, 2007


2007 U.S.-EU Summit


4:15 P.M. EDT

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Hi. I'd like to just cover three topics that were discussed by the leaders and on which there's been a lot of work leading up to the summit.

The first one is the framework for advancing transatlantic economic integration. The three leaders -- President Barroso, Chancellor Merkel and President Bush -- signed this today, and they spent a significant portion of their time together this morning discussing the importance of this agreement and the path that it really lays out for finding ways to reduce barriers to transatlantic economic trade and investment.

The agreement that was signed has three components of it that are worth mentioning. The first is a regulatory focus on finding ways to converge our different regulatory structure and our regulatory approaches when possible, and also reduce and streamline regulations when possible. As we've interacted with the business communities on both sides of the Atlantic, a consistent set of feedback that we've received is that the very different regulatory frameworks pose real barriers to economic advancement and growth in both economies.

So there's a regulatory focus, in terms of determining how to best develop regulations in the future, and also how to reduce the regulatory burden in key areas for sectoral cooperation. These areas include food safety and cosmetics, medical devices, automotive safety, chemicals and others.

Another part of the economic agreement, or the transatlantic economic integration agreement, is a set of priority projects focused on intellectual property rights and secure trade, financial markets, consolidation, investment promotion and innovation and technology. The Europeans often refer to these at lighthouse projects, and the Chancellor specifically spent some time thinking and talking about how important these projects are for the transatlantic economic relationship.

And then, finally, the agreement includes a transatlantic economic council, which is chaired by Al Hubbard on the U.S. side, and Vice President Verheugen, on the European side. And this group will convene key ministerial level members from both sides, as well as key constituents into a common dialogue that will assess the progress and focus of this transatlantic effort.

So there was a good bit of time focused on this agreement and all three leaders really highlighted what an important path this laid out for our future economic activity and advancement. They all noted that the agreement is an ambitious one and the important next step now is getting past the words and really executing on what are a very important set of priorities.

The second topic that the leaders spoke about -- and probably spent the most amount of time in their discussion on this topic -- is the Doha round. And they made it very clear that this transatlantic economic agreement, which focuses on those specific projects and on the regulatory environment is a very different set of activities than the multilateral trade round.

President Bush emphasized the importance he places on that, the importance that it has for the U.S. economy and the European economy, but also for the developing world. And Ambassador Schwab and Commissioner Mandelson were in the room, and there was a good bit of discussion on the progress that's been made, and on the focused next steps that the EU, the United States, and all critical parties need to take in the coming weeks and months to bring Doha to a successful conclusion. And there was a real uniform expression of commitment and goodwill to try to find a path ahead that would satisfy all those involved. So that was the second important area of discussion.

And then third was the energy security, energy efficiency, and climate change discussion. President Bush introduced this topic. They spent, the three leaders, a good bit of time talking about this. I think what was most notable out of that conversation is how much commonality there is around key principles that the leaders have, the emphasis they place on addressing these combined issues of energy security, climate change, and continued economic growth. There was a great deal of emphasis on the importance of technology in addressing that critical agenda. There was a great deal of emphasis placed on the importance of bringing the emerging economies into this discussion in the role that the EU and the United States could play in that. And there was also a discussion around the very different, in some ways, and in some ways similar activities that the various countries have taken.

So President Bush spent a good bit of time emphasizing what he has recently done in the transportation sector in terms of mandatory restrictions on -- or mandatory increases in CAFE standards and the mix of biofuels in our fuel supply. And there was a good bit of discussion around some of the recent steps taken by the European Union, as well as the joint efforts, and the U.S. effort in particular, around technology investment.

Much of this common ground was captured in a summit declaration around energy security, efficiency and climate change. And in that statement, there's a number of common priorities laid out, several that I'll highlight, is the emphasis that the leaders placed on the deployment of clean coal technology and carbon capture and storage technologies. This is an area where we and the European Union agree there needs to be a great deal of emphasis, in not only developing the technology but deploying it around the world.

A second area that is highlighted in the summit declaration is energy efficiency, especially in the transportation sector and in the building sector. A third area that there's a good bit of combined focus and clarity is around the research, development and deployment around biofuels, and developing a common set of standards. The President, as you all know, has a particular interest in that, and he spent a good bit of time during this morning's session talking about biofuels and the U.S. efforts to develop the next generation of technology in that area.

And then, finally, a fourth area of common focus is the methane recovery and use projects, where we and the European Union have a very cooperative effort underway, and we're looking for ways to further enhance that effort.

So those are the three topics. Those took up probably the majority of the sessions this morning, although there were certainly a number of other important political issues raised. So why don't I turn to my colleague and let her talk about those.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: I just want to briefly talk about the political and security issues that were raised today. And I would say that most of the lunch discussion focused on these issues, although one of them was touched on in the earlier session. You will see when these documents are put up on the website later today that there is a statement on promoting peace, human rights and democracy worldwide, and it is a statement that really represents the breadth of the relationship we have with the EU in addressing a number of global challenges.

Let me just highlight a couple of the issues that the leaders talked about. First was Kosovo and the need to quickly come to resolution on the final status for Kosovo, based on Special Envoy Ahtisaari's plan. They discussed Iran and the need to make sure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapons capability; discussed Darfur, the importance of ending the violence there; our joint efforts in Afghanistan; reinvigorating the Middle East peace process, which the EU has become even more involved in with the reinvigoration of the Quartet process since Chancellor Merkel took over as EU President.

They discussed Latin America. The President talked a little bit about his trip to Latin America and the importance of working together on human rights and basic freedoms in Cuba. And there was also a discussion of the President's malaria initiative and the need to really address this problem.

I think I will stop there and, Kate, maybe turn it over to questions, if that's okay.

MS. STARR: Yes, fine, time for questions.

Q I'd just like to ask, on the economic integration agreement, what's the relationship between that agreement and what the SEC has been doing for the last few days? I think last week they announced that they were working with their European counterparts on some somewhat similar sounding kinds of initiatives to reach a single standard for accounting for public companies.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Yes, that -- they are very much integrated. So as I mentioned, there are these specific lighthouse projects that have been identified by the Europeans, the Germans, and us. And one of those is focused specifically on financial markets. And so the whole effort here around identifying and agreeing upon common accounting standards is one of the area's focus.

Q And is that something that the SEC has been involved with?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Very much. Yes. It's something that I think Chris Cox has been involved in taking a leadership role in.

Q Hi there. First quick question is just, I want to ask, if we can, why this briefing needs to be on background? Is there any way we can just put this on the record?

MS. STARR: Yes, standard practice, I think, after meetings of this sort is to just to background on the meeting. And also you've got the President a little bit on the record today. So we'll keep it on background, but appreciate your question; noted.

Q My other question is basically, the leaders today were talking about progress on climate change, but when I listened to the President discuss the issue, it's the same thing he's said over and over and over again, and I didn't really hear anything that was different. What actually constitutes progress on this?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, I guess a couple of things. If you even went back a couple of years ago, even two years ago, I think the discussion around climate change would have been the discussion in isolation of energy security, as well as economic growth. And what was I think notable today in the comments that President Barroso made, as well as Chancellor Merkel, was the emphasis that they both placed in all three, and the common ground that I think they have with the President in terms of the need to address all three holistically.

The second area that they spent a lot of time talking about and just really brainstorming around was how to engage together in a way that would make bringing the emerging economies into this discussion in a constructive way possible. And so there's now discussions about how to do that and how to do that effectively.

Then the third is the area of technology collaboration and cooperation, and the focus that the Europeans -- the Germans, in particular -- and we are placing on that. So this is not to suggest that there's uniform agreement on all aspects of climate policy. But on those foundation points, there is, and that's what they spent the bulk of their time talking about. And the President said this is a conversation that will continue at the G8 and in other forums, and he talks about it with them regularly.

Q It's Olivier, but, close enough. I have one question for each of you, I think. The first one, you said they discussed Kosovo. I'm wondering whether the President reached out to the leaders, the leaders (inaudible) with the President, now that Mr. Holbrooke says that he thinks several EU states would follow the United States in unilaterally recognizing Kosovo.

And on the economic side of things, Chancellor Merkel says it's an enormous step forward that there's now agreement that we need a proper agenda for the Indonesian talks on climate change. What's a proper agenda?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, the agenda is still very much under discussion. But I think the fact that they all agree on the principles that I laid out before are important parts of the agenda. So the need for common action, the need for the right participants, the need for a focus on technology, a need for different approaches at the national level to fulfill a broader global objective. This was what came out of the discussion a bit, was the acknowledgment, I think, that the United States and Germany and the EU more broadly are all taking different approaches to a very common and significant global objective.

So there's a lot of common ground there. I think where there's not been common ground is around the wisdom and effectiveness of a global cap and trade system for fulfilling those objectives. And so there, frankly, wasn't a discussion about that today, but that's been an area where there's not been agreement. But there's certainly more areas of agreement than disagreement at this point.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Let me just address the question on Kosovo. The discussion on Kosovo -- and you'll see some of this in the statement that they put out -- was on trying to get a U.N. Security Council resolution on Kosovo. They noted the fact that the Security Council has just taken a trip to Kosovo and Serbia. This was at the request of the Russians. That trip just got back over the weekend. There will be a report sometime this week, and hopefully based on that report we'll be able to move forward in a cooperative way and actually get a Security Council resolution. That's a far preferable way to move forward on that issue. And that was what the discussion focused on.

Q But just to be clear, they did not discuss the possibility of recognizing Kosovo outside that context?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: They really -- their discussion really focused on getting some type of a Security Council resolution. Obviously, there are options outside of that, if that's not possible, but the focus is really on trying to work together through the Security Council at this point to try to get something done.

Q Okay.

Q Hi there. Can you tell us any more about the high-level forum on climate change that Mr. Barroso mentioned in the press conference? He also mentioned a conference on renewable energy. I wondered if you could tell us more about who would be involved in the forum and then in the conference. Thanks.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: You know, the high-level forum has been something that has -- was established last year and has become the mechanism by which we have, from the United States, interacted with the European Union on this particular topic. Those dialogues have happened on a fairly regular basis, and that was actually the group that created the statement that we announced today. That group was comprised of a combination of people from the climate side, or the environment ministers, as well as the energy ministers, as well as the economic team.

And one of the key arguments that we've historically made, and that the Europeans have to some degree adopted, is that, again, these topics need to be considered together. And therefore, the people that should be talking about them and considering them are representing all those different aspects of policy.

I'm not actually -- I heard his comment and haven't had a chance to follow up on the second part of your question. I'm not exactly sure of the conference he was referring to. But we can certainly track that down.

Q In the Open Skies agreement, there was some concern that this was going to allow greater foreign control of U.S. airlines. Are there any protections to prevent that from happening?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: In terms of what happened on the Open Skies, there were no changes in terms of control of the business, U.S. companies. That would have required a role change, and/or legislation -- neither of those have happened. This is really about access to the markets, in terms of flights from the U.S. to Europe and from Europe to the U.S. Issues of ownership will be dealt with in a second stage negotiation that won't start until 2008.

Q So will the -- when did the, sort of, Open Skies -- I mean, is this just sort of a first step in getting to a broader agreement, or --

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Well, the Open Skies refers to access to the routes, and access to the various slots at airports throughout Europe and the United States. The ownership issues --

Q I guess my question is when does that open access begin?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: March.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: March of 2008, by the terms of the agreement.

Q Okay.

Q Hi. I'm wondering if you can explain what's next in terms of the U.N. international negotiations, in terms of climate change. In the discussions here, Ms. Merkel talked about a strong step forward toward Bali and the agenda that she wants to get there. Was there any agreement on what the United States is going to bring to the Bali meeting in December?

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: There was not any detailed discussion of the specifics of that agenda. I think that that is certainly one of the topics that Chancellor Merkel has outlined as something that she'd like to discuss at the G8. And so this is a discussion that's going to take -- continue to take place in the months ahead. The G8 will be an opportunity where the leaders will talk about these issues again.

And that's an interesting forum because you have Japan, who has just recently -- Prime Minister Abe was here last week, and there was a statement on energy security and climate with Prime Minister Abe and the President, and Japan is a member of the Asia Pacific Partnership, so there's a host of endeavors there, as well as Russia, Canada, and the United States, all of whom have common objectives, I think, but different approaches to achieving those objectives.

So the G8 will provide a forum to begin to try to reconcile those views, and I suspect one of the topics might be how those common views come together in a common agenda through the U.N. or other mechanisms for promoting a climate change, energy security and economic growth agenda.

Q Can I follow up with you? I got on the call a little bit late, so I, one, missed the ground rules in terms of background, and two, what is the administration's position in terms of the next phase after Kyoto expires in 2012? The negotiations will be going on for the next two years, and then there's talk that they'd like to firm those up once Bush leaves office in 2010, I believe it is.

SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: We haven't stated an explicit administration position on what the post-2012 process or approach would be, or should be. The President has articulated a set of principles which I've mentioned, but I'll repeat them just real briefly, which is that he thinks that this is a global challenge that should be addressed by both the developed economies, as well as the emerging economies, and one that they should take on with great focus. He thinks that it should be discussed within the context of energy security, climate change and economic growth. You can't single out one of those; they need to be addressed holistically.

The discussion needs to include the emerging economies, who by any projection will be the primary driver in the foreseeable future of CO2 emissions, and that something that the Chancellor and President Barroso and the President highlighted yet again today, that ultimately technology is going to be the critical ingredient to trying to address this issue globally. And it's not just the development of that technology, but it's the deployment of it in a low-cost way around the world, so China and India and the rest of the emerging economies can actually utilize it.

So those will be the principles that we would place a great deal of emphasis on, but we haven't spoken specifically about what our policy or approach or posture would be to what might emerge after 2012.

MS. STARR: Okay, thank you, everyone. And there will be a transcript on this, so everyone knows, and it should be released fairly soon. Thank you.

END 4:37 P.M. EDT

http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/rm/84011.htm