Harney stresses EU ties to US

THE European Union will be a strong partner with the US in political, economic and security matters, Tánaiste Mary Harney told business leaders during the EU-US summit.

She told the meeting in Adare Manor, Co Limerick, that Europe was now at the beginning of a new era in transatlantic relations and the US would be central. Based on shared values, it will be a partnership for open societies, open markets and an open world.

US Commerce Secretary Donald Evans and EU Enterprise Commissioner Jan Figel attended the meeting which discussed the creation of a barrier-free transatlantic market, intellectual property rights, the fight against counterfeiting and the world trade talks.

TransAtlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) welcomed assurances from both the EU and the US that a fresh approach would be adopted to removing obstacles that stand in the way of a barrier-free market.

Niall FitzGerald, TABD European co-chair, said this would generate real benefits for citizens and companies, help lift morale in the transatlantic political relationship and complement multilateral liberalisation.

Acting US chair Michael Eskew said TABD policy recommendations were the proof of excellent collaboration between firms on both sides of the Atlantic, representing a relationship valued at $2.5 trillion.

Mr FitzGerald and Mr Eskew earlier presented TABD's views to US President George Bush, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and European Commission president Romano Prodi.