Tina Arnold

October 29, 2006

On October 24-25, the United States and the European Union set aside their differences concerning the Kyoto Protocol and began discussions about common environmental goals and interests. As promised last June at the EU-U.S. Summit in Vienna, high-level officials from both governmental entities participated in an inaugural high-level discussion about practical steps, and challenges to, tackling climate change, promoting clean energy, and achieving sustainable development globally. In a joint press release, the two sides stated that the objective of the ongoing dialogue is, "to build on existing transatlantic initiatives and further advance the 2005 G8 Gleneagles Plan of Action for Climate Change, Clean Energy, and Sustainable Development."

The EU and U.S. delegations at the Helsinki meeting highlighted the substantial and growing level of U.S.-European collaboration and explored areas for further work. Topics of discussion included: policies and measures to promote low greenhouse gas emission technologies cleaner energy; cleaner and more efficient vehicles; and biodiversity loss.

At the close of the session, both the US and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to continue the annual joint dialogue and efforts under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change including work on long-term cooperative action in the process established in Montreal in December 2005. The next meeting will be held in the US in 2007.

For more information, visit the United States Mission to the European Union website at:

http://useu.usmission.gov/

http://useu.usmission.gov/Dossiers/Energy/Oct2506_High_Level_Dialogue.asp