Vice President Biden Trip

Washington — Vice President Biden will conduct consultations with officials from NATO, the European Union and Spain during a three-day trip that will focus on critical strategic, security and economic issues, the White House says.

The vice president is expected to make a major address to the European Parliament on U.S.-EU cooperation, especially in the areas of security and counterterrorism, the White House said in a statement May 5. Biden left for Brussels May 5 and will conduct meetings May 6 and May 7 there before traveling on to Madrid for meetings May 7 and May 8.

“During these meetings, the vice president will discuss how the United States and the EU can improve cooperation in areas of mutual concern, including Afghanistan and Pakistan, Iran, counterterrorism, climate change and energy security, and the promotion of economic growth,” the White House statement said. While in Spain, Biden is expected to consult on shared issues and the Spanish presidency of the EU.

The vice president is expected to address bank data-sharing between law enforcement authorities in the European Union and the United States that is intended to combat terrorism. A measure on this subject has met with some resistance in the 27-nation bloc. The EU had wanted to give U.S. counterterrorism agencies access to data collected by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), which records and tracks all financial transactions among European banks, but that became controversial over privacy concerns.

New negotiations are to be held between EU and U.S. Treasury officials to reach an agreement that sets more stringent requirements for obtaining financial data and also provides for privacy safeguards.

NATO MEETINGS

Biden is expected to hold talks with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen May 6 that will include the NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan, a limited missile defense system for Europe, NATO’s Strategic Concept, and its relations with Russia. NATO’s Strategic Concept contains the guiding principles used to address security threats and prepare the alliance for the challenges it will face in the 21st century.

In an article in the online International Herald Tribune May 5, Biden said he will meet with NATO ambassadors to advance the ongoing dialogue among the United States and its closest allies on the future of European security.

“I do so because the United States is firmly committed to the view that any decisions about Europe’s security must be made in close coordination with our European allies and partners. We will decide nothing about our European allies and partners without them,” Biden said in the newspaper commentary.

Biden said the United States and NATO must seek to increase transparency about all of their military forces, including conventional and nuclear forces and other defensive assets in Europe, including missile defense. “Our hope is to do this with Russia,” Biden said.

“Promoting trust within Europe requires understanding how neighbors understand their security challenges and how they intend to confront those challenges,” Biden said.

Biden also said the United States will explore proposals for limits on the size and location of conventional forces, saying these forces should be relevant to today’s security challenges, “not yesterday’s world.”

He also said the United States and Europe need a more effective conflict-prevention, conflict-management and crisis-resolution mechanism to defuse crises before they can escalate out of control.

On May 6 Biden will address the EU Parliament. Following the speech he will meet with European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek and other parliamentary leaders, the White House said. Biden will meet with Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme on May 7.

In Spain Biden will meet with King Juan Carlos to discuss the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Spain on significant global challenges, the White House said. The vice president will conclude his trip May 8 with meetings with President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and members of his government.