EU leaders eager to see changing of the guard in US
By Shadaba Islam
BRUSSELS: They may be carefully steering clear of any meddling in the increasingly heated US presidential contest but it's an open secret in Brussels and other European capitals: With fingers crossed, most European Union leaders are watching and waiting for a change of guard in Washington.
There are exceptions to the rule of course. Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi who fervently supported the US-led war on Iraq is clearly rooting for another term for US President George W. Bush.
Although he should in theory be in favour of the Democratic contender John Kerry, British Prime Minister Tony Blair also probably wants a Bush victory to validate his enthusiastic backing for the invasion of Iraq.
But tired of what they view as gratuitous Euro-bashing by the current US Administration, leaders across most of the 25-nation EU are hoping that it's Kerry, not Bush, who will be taking residence in the White House next January.
Not that anyone seriously expects a dramatic change in US policy on key issues which continue to divide Europe and America -- the Iraq war, policy towards Iran and efforts to end Israeli-Palestinian bloodshed. But EU policymakers are encouraged by Kerry's repeated vows to repair ties with America's allies by taking a more multilateral approach to world affairs.
If nothing else, say officials in Brussels, US policies under Kerry will be articulated in a different, more palatable tone. And the shift in style, they say, will go a long way in healing wounds in the transatlantic relationship.
Iraq remains the biggest bone of contention. French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, both of whom opposed the Iraq invasion, are proving just as sceptical of the Bush administration's calls for more EU reconstruction assistance and Nato involvement.
The French and German leaders vetoed the deployment of Nato combat troops in Iraq, agreeing only that the organization could train Iraqi soldiers and security forces but only outside the country.
Americans and Europeans are divided on how best to deal with Iran's nuclear ambitions. Washington is determined to talk and act tough with Teheran but EU governments -- led by Britain, Germany and France -- are anxiously pursuing the diplomatic road.
EU governments are adamant that the US must launch a new drive to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stop providing blind support to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
EU policymakers make no secret of their distaste for a raft of other policies being pursued by the Bush administration such as Washington's rejection of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, its calls for abstinence in the fight against AIDS, and opposition to the International Criminal Court.
Differences have also emerged in recent months over Turkey and China. President Bush is pressing the EU to open its arms to Ankara as quickly as possible but EU leaders, angry at what they view as US meddling in their internal affairs, have warned that they will not be bullied into accepting Turkey before either Europeans or Turks are ready for the move.
"It's like Europeans telling America how to deal with Mexico," fumed Chirac recently. Meanwhile, diplomats in Brussels warn that, given the current transatlantic mood, active US lobbying in favour of Turkish membership in the EU could actually end up triggering the opposite result unless Kerry makes the case in a more subtle manner.
France, meanwhile, is irritated at American lobbying to stop EU moves to lift a weapons embargo on China. French President Chirac insists that the ban on selling arms to Beijing -- introduced in protest at the Chinese government's 1989 clampdown on pro-democracy activists in Tiananmen Square - is an old, outdated relic which must be removed. But US pressure, spurred by worries about Taiwan's security and geopolitical concerns, has slowed down the process.
US Vice President Dick Cheney and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are particularly disliked by most Europeans because of their open disdain and hostility to the EU. Secretary of State Colin Powell is seen as pro-European although many in Europe admit that his star has been on the wane for several months, if not years. However, although Kerry's election may be greeted with cheer in Europe, it will also place more burdens and responsibilities on the EU. The Democratic contender's promise to seek greater international involvement in Iraq will make it more difficult for Paris and Berlin to continue to reject sending troops to the country.
German newspaper reports say that Richard Holbrooke, expected to become secretary of state if Kerry is elected, has told German Chancellor Schroeder that the first thing the new US president would do is to invite the German leader and Chirac to the White House.
Whether it's Bush or Kerry in the White House next year, the new US administration will be dealing with a more confident and assertive Union. The newly-expanded 25 nation bloc is set to sign its new constitution on October 29 in Rome and will start immediate preparations for establishing its first-ever diplomatic service, including top policymakers from the European Commission and national governments. The new department will be headed by the first EU foreign minister a post expected to be filled by Javier Solana, the current EU foreign and security policy chief.
As it spreads its wings, the EU will be ready to take on more global responsibilities. While the Bush administration has seen Europe's coming of age as a threat to America's international standing, the hope in Brussels is that a new Democratic administration in Washington will view the EU as a real, equal partner which is ready and able to share global responsibilities.
