Share this story!            

EU’s incoming chief wants to help US

* Urges Europeans to leave behind ‘disagreements’ and give ‘a positive, strong contribution’ to the Iraqi problem

BRUSSELS: European governments should put divisions over Iraq behind them and join in helping the United States restore order there, the European Union’s incoming chief executive has said in an interview.

“Some people in Europe may think that it is good that things are going badly for the US” in Iraq, European Commission President-designate Jose Manuel Barroso said in an interview with five European newspapers published on Friday. “I really think that is an irrational and a bad policy.”

As Portugal’s prime minister, Barroso supported the US-led invasion, hosting a pre-war summit with the leaders of the United States, Britain and Spain in the Azores Islands. The country has about 120 police officers stationed near Nasiriyah in southern Iraq.

France and Germany opposed the war and have refused to send troops to help the US-led coalition. Spain recently pulled its forces out of Iraq following the election of a new government.

Divisions over Iraq cast a shadow over efforts last June to choose the next commission president, who runs the EU’s 24,000-strong civil service.

In the interview, Barroso said Europeans should “leave behind our disagreements on Iraq” and “give a positive, strong contribution to the Iraqi problem.”

He said he wanted to see a “good, close, cooperative” relationship with the United States.

“It is in our interest to work with them, but it is also in the interest of the world,” he said. But, he added, “I don’t like to see the EU in a secondary position. Partnership needs respect and that works both ways.”

Aside from Iraq, trans-Atlantic ties have been strained over issues ranging from US steel tariffs to European aircraft subsidies to trade in genetically modified crops.

In the interview, Barroso reiterated his desire to put reforming the continent’s sluggish economy at the top of his agenda, but warned it may take longer than planned to improve competitiveness.

He conceded most of the reforms needed — in labour and welfare laws, taxes, education and research spending — were outside the purview of Brussels. But he said the commission could still play a role in “helping” government find the right policies and setting a framework. The European Commission proposes EU laws and monitors compliance with them in the 25 member states. It also represents the bloc in world trade talks and has broad power in areas of antitrust and the functioning of the internal market.

The new 25-member executive, slated to take office Nov. 1, held its first meeting Friday, described as an informal “team-building” session to go over organizational issues and a code of conduct. ap

Home | Foreign

Share this story!