EU welcome for US election

The EU has congratulated George W Bush on a second election victory as US leader, stressing the need for close Trans-Atlantic ties.

Jan Peter Balkenende, prime minister of the Netherlands, which currently holds the EU's presidency, sent a letter to president Bush congratulating him on his victory.

"The US and the EU are linked by strong cultural, economic and political ties, and by our shared values. This makes us each other’s natural and indispensable partners," the EU presidency said following the result.

"The presidency is confident that this relationship will be further deepened and strengthened under the new administration."

Outgoing Brussels chief Romano Prodi also sent "warm congratulations" to Bush on his re-election.

"As the country's leader in the most dramatic time of its history, he has had to deal with the horrifying onslaught of terrorism.

"I hope his second term will see the US and the whole world enjoy the political stabilisation and the guarantee of collective security we have all done our utmost to ensure.

"Europe will continue to work to strengthen its bonds of friendship and cooperation with the US."

But president of the European Socialists, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen voiced his group's "disappointment" at the result.

"This is clearly a disappointment for social democrats and socialists on both sides of the Atlantic. I very much fear a political backlash for our transatlantic relations," he said. 

"If Bush is to take the reins for a second mandate, it must be seen as a second chance to do things right. We appeal to him to learn from his mistakes first time round: to sign up to the International Criminal Court, to respect the principles of multilateralism in such agreements as the Kyoto protocol, and to accept the UN as the right and only successful solution to the Iraqi war."

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