US suspicion of EU ‘could be solved by a free-trade area’

By Dana Spinant

Date: 30/10/03

THE EU and the United States should form a free-trade area in order to overcome the present suspicion between the two sides of the Atlantic and intertwine their interests, a leading American think-tanker said.

Speaking to European Voice, Clyde Prestowitz, president of the Washington-based Economic Strategy Institute, insisted that through a free trade area “the US would 'join' the EU, and then the membership of NATO and of the European Union will be almost the same”.

But he admitted that this idea, “although not dismissed anymore, is not high on the list of priorities of the US administration”.

Prestowitz, a Republican who stirred controversy in Washington with his recent book Rogue nation which criticizes American unilateralism, believes that there is a certain degree of “immaturity”.in relations between US and Europe.

The recent row over European defence mirrors the dilemma the US is currently facing: “They would like the Europeans to take on more responsibility for defence, but not more powers or independence.”.

The US Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns recently warned that plans to boost European defence in the draft EU constitution currently under discussion by member state governments, were “a significant threat”.to the future of the 19-strong Alliance, and Prestowitz believes “they fear a weakening of NATO and, therefore, of the US' voice in Europe.

“NATO is America's seat at the EU table. If NATO becomes less important and Europe more integrated militarily, that seat would become less influential.”

The Washington insider further explained the concerns of the Bush administration: “They see that the Europeans do not want to spend more money on defence. In addition, they [Europeans] direct their efforts towards creating a separate command structure, not more military capacities.

“As a result, they will have a defence policy - but not additional defence capabilities. Which means they would take resources away from NATO.”.

Prestowitz believes the present “suspicion”.could be overcome if the UK, America's closest ally, gets deeply involved in all European defence efforts.

“The role of the Brits is critical. If they are really in there, assuming that they communicate well with America, the Europeans can make it.”

But he urges Europeans to “get their act together and speak with one voice”.in order to form the basis of a more balanced partnership with the United States.

“Whenever the US president meets European leaders, at their annual summit, it is clear that he is so much more powerful than the Europeans. It is totally different when he meets the leaders of Russia or China.

“If he met a European president, that would be a meeting of equals,”.he said.

But Prestowitz admits the US administration has been ambivalent in respect of whether it wants Europe to be a stronger, more equal partner.

“The US administration receives some disadvantages from the weakness of Europe, but also some advantages.

“It may not be terribly happy with a strong European partner.”

Interview with Clyde Prestowitz, President of the Washington-based Economic Strategy Institute in which he discusses the relationship between the United States and the European Union.

http://www.econstrat.org/ http://www.econstrat.org/

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