By Daisy Ayliffe - 21st June 2006
European commentators say the much trumpeted EU-US summit failed to produce concrete answers to the most pressing questions.
US president George Bush held a one-day summit with EU leaders in Austria on Wednesday.
Questions over Guantanamo, Iraq, Iran and perceptions of America in Europe sparked heated debate in the Vienna press room.
Guantanamo
The EU used the Vienna gathering to politely reveal its concerns over the controversial Guantanamo detention centre.
“Let me explain my position. First I'd like to end Guantanamo. I'd like it to be over with. One of the things we will do is send people back to their home countries,” Bush told reporters.
“We've got about 400 people there left, 200 have been sent back... There are some who need to be tried in US courts. They are cold-blooded killers. They will murder somebody if they are let out on the street.”
The Italian newspaper La Stampa said Bush’s comments amount to a half promise.
“It’s like saying the decision to shut Guantanamo has been taken – but we can’t do it just yet,” the paper notes.
In Germany, Deutsche Welle says the summit conclusions “paper over” differences on Guantanamo.
“The text does not specifically mention Guantanamo, which the US insists is needed in the war against terror,” the paper writes.
Iran
Bush also dismissed suggestions that the US presents the greatest threat to world stability, responding to the results of a recent European poll
Just 30 per cent of those questioned in the poll said that Iran was the greatest threat to world peace, compared to 36 per cent who cited the US.
“That is absurd,” Bush hit back. “I am going to act on my beliefs as long as I am president of the USA. I will do my best to explain our foreign policy – it is tough and compassionate...but we will let people say what they want to say.”
Trade
There was no clear suggestion on how to move out of Doha deadlock in the summit conclusions - no concrete plans on farm subsidies or agricultural market access were put forward by either side.
“Bilateral ties between Europe and the US are strong. They are important, we are the most important trade partners for each other,” said Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, skirting the issue.
Meanwhile, Bush tried to put a brave face on the challenges, with the WTO deadline set for the end of next week.
“We’re committed to a successful round [of Doha trade talks] and it’s going to take hard work,” he said.
Journalists said the toughest talking on trade came from European commission president José Manuel Barroso.
“Barroso, who seldom weighs in on trade issues, appeared to be using the Bush visit to issue his clearest challenge yet to the US to make concessions or risk derailing the global talks,” the Herald Tribune writes.
Barroso warned Bush “there will be no Doha agreement if others do not move”.
Iraq
“Beyond trade, the US and Europe are still struggling to overcome the divisions caused by the war in Iraq,” the Herald Tribune adds.
The US premier recognised that the war had created huge rifts – but he said it was time to look to the future.
"Look, I fully understand we’ve had our differences on Iraq, and I can understand the differences,” Bush declared.
“People have strong opinions on the subject. But what’s past is past, and what’s ahead is a hopeful democracy in the Middle East.”
Climate change
On climate change, Brussels and Washington gave the green light to a new debate forum while quietly ignoring the Kyoto protocol, which Bush still refuses to sign.
“We have agreed to establish an EU-US high-level dialogue on climate change, clean energy, sustainable development,” Barroso stated.
“This will address ways to deliver cost-effective emission cuts, development and employment of new technologies, efficiency and conservation, renewable fuels and other environmental issues such as biodiversity.”
European commentators
Liberation comments that Europe only has niceties to say to Bush.
“On Guantanamo, WTO talks or the question of granting visas to all EU citizens, Europe had to make do with pleasantries from the American president,” the French daily writes.
Meanwhile, the Telegraph is more frustrated by Washington’s approach.
The paper accuses the US of being “hopeless at marketing America and its policies”.
“As for the president, my advice is simple: swallow your pride, Mr Bush, and admit that America does not always live up to its ideals. You won’t convince everyone, nor need you. But you have a message to give and it is not being heard,” the paper’s Washington correspondent writes.
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