STEARNS REACHES CONSENSUS WITH EUROPEAN LEGISLATORS ON U.S./EUROPEAN UNION (EU) COOPERATION ON ECONOMIC POLICY, CYBER SECURITY & FOREIGN AFFAIRS

WASHINGTON, DEC. 1, 2012 – As Chairman of the U.S. Delegation to the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue (TLD), Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) today concluded the 73^rd biannual meeting of U.S. and European legislators in Washington, D.C.  The TLD aims at enhancing the dialogue between European and American federal Legislators, and the European Parliament and the American Congress, on the principle that EU-US relations go far beyond foreign policy or trade issues, and also involve other fields of legislation.  The TLD held its biannual meeting on November 30 and December 1, 2012, in Washington, D.C. 

Said Stearns, “I deeply appreciate the participation and input of the European legislators.  Through our discussions, we found common ground and room for progress on enhancing our economies and job creation, as well as cooperation on other economic issues, foreign policy, and cyber security.”  Stearns also coordinated the participation of the Ways and Means Committee’s leadership in the discussion on trade issues.

Working with the Chairman of the EU Delegation, Christian Ehler of Germany, Stearns issued a Joint statement* for the TLD’s Interparliamentary Meeting.  In opening, it states, “Building upon our common values of democracy, human rights and economic and political liberty, our discussions focused on the economic challenges that our nations face, technological advances of the Internet and the opportunities and challenges they pose, as well as shared foreign policy and security concerns regarding Ukraine, Georgia, the Balkans, the Mahgreb, Syria and Iran.”