Bruton aims to expand EU/US business

EUROPE’s new ambassador to the United States, John Bruton, who took up office yesterday, plans to concentrate on the business links between the two blocs.

On the day when George W Bush was returned to the White House, Mr Bruton’s appointment was welcomed by the US ambassador to the EU, Rockwell Schnabel as “a major step in the right direction.” Predicting greater US co-operation with Europe, he said: “They have sent a new ambassador who is going to work on the issues of getting a better understanding of the EU case in Washington.”

The former Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach is spending a few days in Brussels before moving to his €200,000-a-year diplomatic post in Washington later this month.