Need to prevent present transatlantic disagreements over Iraq from negatively affecting vital transatlantic economic relations

Doc. 9745

18 March 2003

Need to prevent present transatlantic disagreements over Iraq from negatively affecting vital transatlantic economic relations

Motion for a resolution

presented by Mr Frey and others

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only the members who have signed it

1. Transatlantic trade and investment relations form the pillar of the world economy. Were they to suffer as a result of tensions between the two continents in the political and economic arenas, the world economy would sustain a serious blow, with consequences for world peace and for the economies of all countries.

2. The Assembly, against this background, notes with concern the recent rift in transatlantic political relations over Iraq – especially between the United States on the one hand and the major economic powers of Germany and France on the other. While recognising that close partners may disagree, the Assembly nevertheless – mindful that a vicious circle of deteriorating political and economic relations could easily set in – pleads with all the transatlantic partners not to let these divergences spill over into the economic arena, whether through punitive protectionist measures or by hardening attitudes in trade negotiations. The latter, currently pursued within the framework of the WTO Doha Development Agenda, have now reached a critical stage and their successful conclusion is of particular significance in the present context.

Signed (see overleaf)

Signed ¹:

Frey, Switzerland, LDR

Anacoreta Correia, Portugal, NR

Berceanu, Romania, SOC

Braun, Hungary, EPP

Budin, Italy, SOC

Burbiene, Lithuania, SOC

Crema, Italy, SOC

Cavusoglu, Turkey, EDG

Figel, Slovakia, EPP

Griffiths, United Kingdom, SOC

Grissemann, Austria, NR

Jonas, Germany, SOC

Kirilov, Bulgaria, SOC

Liapis, Greece, EPP

Mooney, Ireland, LDR

Podgorski, Poland, SOC

Popa, Romania, SOC

Schreiner, France, EDG

Smith, United Kingdom, SOC

Walter, United Kingdom, EDG

Yarygina, Russia, SOC

¹ SOC: Socialist Group

EPP: Group of the European People’s Party

EDG: European Democratic Group

LDR : Liberal, Democratic and Reformers’ Group

UEL: Group of the Unified European Left

NR: not registered in a group