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EU-US summit ends on high note

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-06 10:52

PRAGUE - A one-day summit between the European Union (EU) and the United States ended on Sunday on a high note, with closer transatlantic cooperation promised for the future.

Leaders attending the EU-US summit pose for group photos in Prague, Czech Republic, April 5, 2009. [Xinhua]

The summit in Prague is "a symbol of a new level reached in EU- US relations," Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency, told reporters after the meeting with US President Barack Obama.

Prague was the last leg of Obama's first European trip since he took office in January.

Before the EU-US summit, Obama had been in London for the G20 summit on global financial and economic crisis and in Strasbourg of France for a NATO summit on the 60th anniversary of the military alliance.

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"There is indeed great willingness on both sides to reinforce this very important relationship," said European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso.

Barroso said the meeting between Obama and all leaders of 27 EU member states was focused on three main challenges, namely climate change, energy security and trade.

He said there is an increasing convergence between Europe and the United States on the global fight against climate change and both sides would cooperate more.

"The EU and the US must also work together on helping developing countries reach their own goals in terms of reducing emissions," a joint declaration issued by the EU-US summit said.

"Together, the EU and the US will be in a stronger position to get on board key international actors and emerging countries and achieve an ambitious outcome at the UN negotiations in Copenhagen later this year," the document said.

Earlier in the day, Obama said in a public speech that the United States was ready to take the lead in tackling climate change.

"To protect our planet, now is the time to change the way that we use energy," Obama told a crowd that gathered in downtown Prague. "I pledge to you that in this global effort the US is now ready to lead."

On boosting trade, the EU and the United States said they remain committed to reaching an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the long-stalled Doha Round of global trade talks.

The leaders also turned to regional issues, making a joint call on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to abandon its nuclear weapons programs.

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