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Rose Garden
1:18 P.M. EDT
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all, please be seated. Welcome to the Rose Garden. I want to welcome Angela Merkel and José Barroso here. Thank you all for your friendship, thank you for what has been a serious set of discussions.
I told the Chancellor and the President that the EU-U.S. relations are very important to our country, that not only is it important for us to strategize how to promote prosperity and peace, but it's important for us to achieve concrete results. And we have done so. I thank the Chancellor and José very much for the trans-Atlantic economic integration plan that the three of us signed today. It is a statement of the importance of trade. It is a commitment to eliminating barriers to trade. It is a recognition that the closer that the
We also talked about
Secondly, I reminded the people that this country is dedicated to working to eliminate poverty and disease, and the best way to help the developing world is through a successful
Anyway, I am optimistic we can achieve the objective and today's meetings gave us a chance to discuss a way forward.
We talked about the visa waiver program. We talked about
We talked about
We also talked about climate, and here we share a common interest: One, we recognize that we have a problem with greenhouse gases; two, we recognize we have a problem with a dependence on oil; three, we recognize that we can use technologies to help solve this problem; and, four, we recognize we have an obligation to work together to promote the technologies necessary to solve the problem, and encourage the developing world to use those technologies.
And so I found the discussion refreshing and interesting, and I appreciate the candid conversations we had.
Madam Chancellor, welcome back here to the Rose Garden, and I'm looking forward to your comments.
CHANCELLOR MERKEL: (As translated.) Thank you, Mr. President, dear George. Thank you for the hospitality. Thank you for the hospitality you accorded to the European Union, and also for the fact that you made it possible to hold this summit meeting between the EU and the
It was a very interesting debate and one that was actually -- we were talking about a lot of issues -- about transatlantic economic integration, obviously first and foremost. And let me thank you very warmly for the fact that we've been able to enjoy such substantial progress in such a relatively short time. That was only possible because the American administration -- but in particular, you, Mr. President -- were behind, full-square behind this project, and because we not only agreed on general frameworks, but on very concrete projects.
And I think that's exactly what the people in our country expect from us, all the representatives of our respective business communities. They ask us what can we do in order to really pool our resources and make sure that we work on one and the same level playing field as regards, for example, our shared values. So I am confident that what with the Economic Council that we have set up, we will be able to make progress on very concrete projects, for example, mutual recognition of standards and other areas. It is, as I see it, a significant step forward.
I would also like to thank you for the progress we've been able to make on climate and energy issues. There is a common basis. We are aware of the fact that we do have a problem here, that we need to solve this problem. There are different approaches, obviously, as to how to solve that.
But we have been able, actually, to find a lot of common ground. And one of the issues we talked about, for example, was a commitment of the
Now, on climate, we will also need to work on this in view of the upcoming G8 summit where we will make it clear, as European Union, as United States of America, that we don't want to isolate ourselves or shut ourselves off against the rest of the world, but where we want to enlist the support of others, invite them to join us.
And I also note that the trade talks have been taking place here on the margins of this meeting. They also, obviously, will then have to take place in a more wider group, the multilateral group. Let me just tell you, this agreement between the European Union and the
I don't want to go through the whole agenda of international issues. And let me just tell you, it was an open and candid discussion that clearly showed us that we need to work together, that diplomacy can only be successful if we stand together, be this on the Middle East, on other issues.
And let me tell you that we have been talking at greater length also about the situation in Darfur, which we consider to be totally unacceptable, and that we need to do everything we can in order to help the people there on the ground who suffer immensely because we have not made progress so far, and that we ought to use all of our possibilities in order to achieve progress also in the United Nations.
Thank you yet again for your hospitality, for the commitment that I think the number of documents that we have been able to agree on here today show it's a good day for EU-U.S. relations.
PRESIDENT BARROSO: The exchange, the one we had today, covering the whole range of European Union-United States relations, and also some international issues. President Bush and Chancellor Merkel already mentioned the basic points, so let me just underline one or two that I believe are specifically important, namely in terms of economic relations and also on climate.
On economic relations, we signed very important framework for advancing transatlantic European integration. This was already welcomed by the business community on both sides of
So this is, indeed, a very important agreement, and an agreement that also brings with it a transatlantic economic council to be a permanent body, with senior people on both sides of
On the European Union side, I decided to appoint Vice President of the Commission Günter Verheugen as our leading personality in that council.
Another important point linked with this, to be signed later this afternoon, is the Air Transport Agreement. It is a very important first-stage agreement on air transport, but it also brings with it the same idea of putting, in an easier footing, the relations, economic relations, people's relations between the
But trade, we also welcomed very strong statement that President Bush made during our meeting just now. We are very committed to successful conclusion to
Regarding climate, I really welcome the fact that there was progress in this meeting. We agree there is a threat, there is a very serious and global threat. We agree that there is a need to reduce emissions. We agree that we should work together. That's why I decided to have a forum where we are going to address many of these issues, namely technology and other issues that are important to fight climate change. And let's be frank, without the
So climate and energy security are important in the agenda. And I'm very happy with the progress that we have achieved in this meeting today.
Once again, President Bush, George, thank you very much for all the preparations and all the support you are giving, personally, to these very deep and strong relations.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, José. Two questions for the three of us, starting with Terry.
Q Mr. President, you're about to veto a bill that would force troop withdrawals from
PRESIDENT BUSH: I am about to veto a bill that has got artificial timetables for withdrawal. That's not the only bad thing about the bill. It also imposes the judgment of people here in
That's not to say that I'm not interested in their opinions. I am. I look forward to working with members of both parties to get a bill that doesn't set artificial timetables and doesn't micromanage, and gets the money to our troops. I believe there's a lot of Democrats that understand that we need to get the money to the troops as soon as possible. And so I'm optimistic we can get something done in a positive way.
Q Mr. President –-
PRESIDENT BUSH: How could we ever forget your face? (Laughter.)
Q That's great, thank you very much. I remember yours, too. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you.
Q Mr. President, concerning the nuclear dispute about missile defense, missile defense with Moscow, what concrete steps are you planning to convince President Putin that this is a good idea of NATO and the U.S.? And can the German Chancellor help you on this issue?
PRESIDENT BUSH: As you know, I'm having a regular conversation with the German Chancellor. We have a secure video that is beamed in the White House and her office, and so we consult regularly. And she expressed her concerns that the
Our intention, of course, is to have a defense system that prevents rogue regimes from holding Western Europe, and/or
Our intention is to say to
Q If I can ask the President of the Commission, first of all, on the trade agreement you've reached, presumably this is an agreement that's going to make wealthy countries richer, yet there's no progress to report on Doha to help the plight of poor countries. Aren't your priorities wrong?
And on a separate issue, your foreign policy chief has said that the
President Bush, because I have a question on that, your Secretary of State is going to a conference in
PRESIDENT BARROSO: Regarding the framework for advancing transatlantic-European integration, we said it very clearly, and it is clearly stated in the declaration, and also in all our conversations, that this is not detrimental to the global trade talks. On the contrary, you just heard President Bush, Chancellor Merkel and myself saying it clearly that completion of
But there are some artificial barriers to trade and investment -- it's more about investment than to trade, to be frank -- still between the
This is not at all against global trade talks. On the contrary, we remain and, in fact, we are urging for a completion of the
Regarding
PRESIDENT BUSH: Should the Foreign Minister of Iran bump into Condi Rice, Condi won't be rude. She's not a rude person. I'm sure she'll be polite.
But she'll also be firm in reminding this representative of the Iranian government that there's a better way forward for the Iranian people than isolation. My hopes, of course, is that the foreign minister would see the resolve of our government, through Condi, to continue to rally the world to convince the Iranians to give up their nuclear weapons ambitions. I happen to believe a significant threat to world peace, today and in the future, is the Iranian threat if they were to end up with a nuclear weapon -- "today" is the wrong word -- "in the future," they don't have a weapon today.
And so I -- if, in fact, there is a conversation, it will be one that says if the Iranian government wants to have a serious conversation with the United States and others, they ought to give up their enrichment program in a verifiable fashion. And we will sit down at the table with them, along with our European partners, and
CHANCELLOR MERKEL: Allow me, if I may, one remark on the transatlantic economic partnership, and how that tallies with the
What we are after is to see to it that we try for convergence on standards in many, many areas where we do not have mutual recognition of standards, or areas where we can actually harmonize those standards, and therefore, reduce costs by millions, for example, in drug testing, in crash tests for automobiles. And if we look at where the challenges lie, I am firmly convinced that both the
So in this way, this will liberate money to put into new technologies, into developing techniques that can enable us to do that. And we're actually squandering money that could be put to better use. So the two are complementary, but they also serve strengthening competitiveness of both the European Union and the
Q For all three of you, did you at any point today, either informally or not, have discussions about the fate of World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz? Should he resign, keep his job? And your reason for that, please.
PRESIDENT BUSH: The answer is, no, we didn't have a discussion. My position is, is that he ought to stay. He ought to be given a fair hearing. And I appreciate the fact that he has advanced -- he's helped the World Bank recognize that eradication of world poverty is an important priority for the bank.
CHANCELLOR MERKEL: Well, today, we did not address that issue, and my position is, and this is going to be relayed by a minister in the board -- in the individual bodies of the World Bank, and they have the respective commissions, as well, that this ought to be a very transparent, very candid conversation. This is, I think, where this belongs, this particular issue.
Q (As translated.) A question addressed to you, Mr. President, and also to the Chancellor. You were speaking of progress that you have been able to achieve on climate. Are these true and genuine -- is this true and genuine progress if we still don't agree on the instruments to get there? The Europeans seem to be banking more on limiting CO2 emissions, sort of national limits that are imposed by governments. You seem to be more in favor of sort of a voluntary regime. But apparently we're sort of reaching the 11th hour.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Actually, that’s not an accurate portrayal of my position. For example, take tailpipe emissions from automobiles. I have said we'll have a mandatory fuel standard, not a voluntary fuel standard, but a mandatory fuel standard that will reduce our uses of gasoline by 20 percent over a 10-year period of time. We believe that ethanol and biodiesel, the spread of ethanol and biodiesel are -- the goal of spreading ethanol and biodiesel is achievable, that's what we believe. And we're spending a lot of money to achieve that goal.
Now, the spread of ethanol in the
And it is a mandatory approach. And the reason why I laid it out is because, one, I do believe we can be better stewards of the environment; and, two, I know it's in our national interest to become less dependent on foreign sources of oil. The fundamental question is, will
Now you talk about helping alleviate poverty in the developing world -- wouldn't it be wonderful if the developing world could grow crops that would enable them to power their automobiles, so they wouldn't have to be dependent on foreign oil, either. And that's the message I took down to South America, with Lula, and to
As to how each country approaches it, that's an interesting question, and I think that each country needs to recognize that we must reduce our greenhouse gases and deal, obviously, with their own internal politics, to come up with an effective strategy that, hopefully, when added together, that it leads to a real reduction.
Finally, you've got to recognize that in order to make progress on greenhouse gases, we've got to make sure that the developing nations, which are significant emitters, are a part of the process. As I reminded the people around the conference table today, the
So this is a very important issue; it's got global consequences. The good news is, is that we recognize there's a problem. The good news is recognize technology is going to lead to solutions, and that we're willing to share those technologies. We all recognize we've got to deal with the developing world, particularly
CHANCELLOR MERKEL: I feel -- just look back a year ago. I feel that we would have had a lot more difficulty actually bringing about language that describes this problem adequately than we have to now. And it is thanks to the President and his team clearly mentioning what the problem is in this document -- it says, clearly, we need to do everything we can in order to work against these detrimental consequences. A lot is being done discussing this issue. For example, we need to discuss possible pricing of CO2, how can we translate this into a market economic compatible scheme.
And we are also agreed that we, as industrialized country, need to address this issue, need to develop the necessary technology. But we, alone, without the emerging countries, will not be able solve this problem. And this is why it's so important that this EU-U.S. result is translated into the G8, debated together with the outreach countries -- China and South Africa, Brazil, among others, and India -- because if we were not doing that, we would not be able to combat this problem that is truly a global one.
But what is also true is that if the developed countries who have the best technology don't do anything, it will be even harder to convince the others. But without convincing the others, CO2 emissions worldwide will not go down. And I do think that we, together, need to define steps. We have done it. For example, we need a proper agenda for the Indonesian talks at the end of this year, that's an enormous step forward. And I think this is where we should be clear about the glass being half full, instead of half empty. So think again.
Q For Mr. Barroso, I would like to know how happy the European Union is, really, with the final document on climate change? Is it as ambitious as you were planning? Thank you.
PRESIDENT BARROSO: To be very frank, it's better than what I was planning. I think it was real progress. Of course, it's working in progress, but as President Bush said, we agree there is a global threat, it's a serious threat; we agree there is a need to establish a limit to greenhouse gases; we agree with many of the mechanisms, namely the market-based mechanisms, the technology cooperation. We have agreed to establish a high-level group, a forum, between the European Union and the American administration to look at those issues. And as Chancellor Merkel just said, we have to engage others. So now we can go to the G8 in Heiligendamm in June, in
So I really believe that there was progress, and very concrete progress. For instance, standards for biofuels; it's good. The idea to have a conference on renewables between the European Union and the
So I really believe that by linking those different files -- climate protection, energy security -- we can really achieve a very important goal of having sustainable development that is friendly to our environment. But I think it was very important progress, and we are working along the same lines. But it is, of course, still work in progress.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all very much. Madam Chancellor, thank you. Mr. President, thank you.
END 1:49 P.M. EDT