The resolution on transatlantic relations

The European Parliament has just voted a resolution on transatlantic relations.

The resolution was adopted by 319 votes to 94 with 151 abstentions.

Here's an excerpt (empahsis mine):

A. reaffirming its commitment to the democratic values which are the foundation of both the transatlantic community and solidarity: freedom, democracy, the rule of law and human rights,

B. whereas balanced EU-US relations are important to global peace and stability based on international law and to strengthening international institutions in order to provide a multilateral framework and improve global governance,

C. whereas multilateralism remains the best way to identify and meet threats and to achieve global peace and security, and whereas there is therefore a common interest in enhancing the effectiveness of multilateral institutions,

D. whereas by acting together Europe and the United States could develop solutions to global challenges such as the environment, natural and human disasters, poverty, migration, development, terrorism, international crime, and social and ethnic conflicts,

Notice that, apparently, the environment is more of a priority than terrorism.

E. whereas the long-lasting situation in Guantanamo Bay is hindering EU-US transatlantic relations, since the EU cannot accept legal and judicial irregularities which undermine the most fundamental values of the rule of law,

F. deeply concerned at the continued existence of the death penalty in many US states,

G. having regard to the persistence of many trade disputes between the EU and the US,

1. Stresses the importance of a comprehensive dialogue, including political, economic, defence and security cooperation, between the two partners as a fundamental basis for the transatlantic relationship; considers that, in spite of certain well-known differences, there are still more factors uniting Europe and the United States than there are dividing them;

2. Underlines that a European Union adequately supported by an enhanced CFSP is a precondition for a well-balanced partnership based on complementarity, which is attainable through a better balance in the division of tasks in order to promote better regional and global burden-sharing, with the ultimate aim of enhancing overall security;

3. Recommends making the pursuit of common global interests the central defining political purpose of the transatlantic partnership: spreading democracy, modern governance, open societies and markets, sustainable economies, freedom of expression, fundamental human rights and respect for the rule of law around the world;

4. Expresses the view that the economic foundations for a strengthened EU-US partnership are strong but should be improved, that the defence and security foundations need to be developed, placing conflict prevention at their core, and that the institutional mechanism of the partnership should be reassessed;

5. Reaffirms its requests concerning the development of a European Security Strategy which would define the Union's values and interests in the field of promoting worldwide stability, conflict prevention and crisis management, and set out the Union's approach to making the world a safer place; believes that a comprehensive European Strategy must include a long-term strategic focus for the transatlantic partnership, given that the issue-by-issue approach can only be successful if an overall framework is embedded in this strategy and that the experiences of the last decade show that under the existing mechanisms new questions arise faster than old ones are resolved;

6. Urges an effective reshaping of a genuine and well-balanced in-depth dialogue with the United States with a view to developing action better suited to today's world situation, based on respect for international law and the principles of the UN Charter;

Okay, it goes on, but I'll let you check yourself.