EU-US Summit

Tomorrow, EU and American leaders meet in Washington for the EU-US Summit. The summit has become a very important annual event in the EU's calendar. In tomorrow's meeting, the main protagonists will be Commission President José Manuel Barroso, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President George W. Bush.

The two sides are expected to sign a framework agreement leading to a trans-Atlantic Economic Partnership. But hotter issues will be on the agenda, including energy, global warming, Iran and the Middle East. It is encouraging to see the two democratic Unions talking to each other, making joint plans instead of bickering against each other.

One would have thought that four years ago, when the US and Britain invaded Iraq, the trans-Atlantic divisions and intra-European schisms caused by that event would make the partnership capsize and sink the Union, which was about to grow larger with the admission of ten new member states. Well the trans-Atlantic relationship did not capsize and the Union held together, only just.

As this piece was being written, the main news from across the Atlantic was that an underperforming American economy had pushed the dollar to record lows of $1.3667 against the euro. That is no crisis.

Some Europeans, but not many, may rejoice at the new heights achieved by the euro. But many Americans know that a weaker dollar will help their exporters export more. So here we float again towards a new trans-Atlantic economic equilibrium.

But let's refocus on tomorrow's summit. In preparation for it, last week Chancellor Merkel and President Barroso met at the German government's guest house in Schloss Meseberg. Chancellor Merkel is keen on the trans-Atlantic Economic Partnership, which according to her could generate greater economic growth in both economic areas.

The aim of this agreement, according to Merkel, is to dismantle obstacles to economic relations, which cost both sides a great deal of effort, a great deal of time and a great deal of money. These obstacles to trade can be found in every branch of industry, from the chemical industry to the pharmaceuticals and mechanical engineering.

Only customs duties play no part in the agreement; the continued reduction of customs duties is the focus of the ongoing negotiations under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (the Doha Round). The long-term aim is to achieve a trans-Atlantic common market.

But this will not be the only issue to be discussed. A trans-Atlantic aviation agreement will also be signed. Then there is the question of climate protection and energy - security of supply and alternatives to fossil fuels. The foreign policy topics will surely include developments in Iran and the Middle East problem.

There is also the hot issue of the missile defence system. In a resolution the European Parliament called on the US to redouble its efforts to consult and explain its planned missile defence system within NATO to allow the Alliance and Europe to remain united. The Parliament stressed the importance of "pursuing consultations on the system within the NATO-Russia Council".

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that US plans to build a missile defence system in Eastern Europe would raise the risk of "mutual destruction". He was reported to have said: "The threat of causing mutual damage and even destruction increases many times".

A day before he had threatened to halt involvement with a treaty limiting conventional arms in Europe.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair insists that the missile defence plan was not aimed at Russia but at those countries that were trying to acquire nuclear weapons. This is probably true. But Russian concerns need to be treated seriously.

A major issue that also interests Malta is that the US still applies entry visas to selected EU member states. The European Parliament has called on the US to lift the visa regime immediately and treat all citizens of EU member states equally. We hope that progress on this issue is made at the summit.