European Union

Expressing the sense of the Congress with respect to unilateral altering, by the European Union, of the standards for imports of certain wood products.

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 2005

Expresses the sense of Congress that the European Union's unilateral attempt to alter the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures Number 15 (ISPM 15) as it applies to imports of wood packaging materials violates the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). Urges the President to ask the European Commission to agree to: (1) suspend the requirement that all wood packaging be debarked until there is credible scientific evidence of the need for such a standard; (2) allow the processing of relevant scientific data through authorized IPPC channels; (3) develop a clear definition of "debarked" wood packaging for pallets and containers, if the relevant IPPC entities conclude that changing ISPM 15 is technically justified, and communicate it to all participating nations in a clear and unambiguous manner; (4) allow sufficient time for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to establish a system for using a "debark" mark or other stamp or indication for pallets and containers; and (5) establish an implementation date for the new requirement with which U.S. wood packaging manufacturers can reasonably comply.

Urging the Republic of Turkey to comply with all European Union standards and criteria prior to its accession to the European Union.

United States · United States Congress · 28 July 2005

States that the Republic of Turkey should continue to demonstrate that it is meeting the Copenhagen European Council criteria for accession to the European Union (EU). Urges: (1) the removal of Turkish occupation forces from the northern one-third of Cyprus; and (2) Turkey to abandon all insistence of the right to intervene in or invade Cyprus. States that Turkey should recognize the fundamental rights of all Cypriots with respect to: (1) the right to own property; (2) the right of free movement; (3) the right of free settlement; and (4) the right of return for refugees. Calls upon Turkey to: (1) cooperate with the United Nations and Cyprus toward the discovery of the fate of every missing person; and (2) uphold human rights. Encourages Turkey to continue to modernize and democratize its own society.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the July, 2005, measures of extreme repression on the part of the Cuban Government against members of Cuba's prodemocracy movement, calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, the legalization of political parties and free elections in Cuba, urging the European Union to reexamine its policy toward Cuba, and calling on the representative of the United States to the 62d session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to ensure a resolution calling upon the Cuban regime to end its human rights violations, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 26 July 2005

Condemns the gross human rights violations committed by the Cuban regime. Expresses support for the right of the Cuban people to exercise fundamental political and civil liberties. Calls on: (1) the Secretary of State to initiate an international solidarity campaign on behalf of all Cuban political prisoners; (2) the European Union (EU) to reexamine its current policy toward the Cuban regime before June of 2006; and (3) the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and other international organizations, to work with United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) member countries to ensure a resolution that strongly condemns the July 2005 measures of repression on opposition activists and of all the human rights violations committed by the Cuban regime.

C. Boyden Gray, of the District of Columbia, to be Representative of the United States of America to the European Union, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.

United States · United States Senate · 25 July 2005

Commemorating the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923, urging the Government of the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge the culpability of its predecessor state, the Ottoman Empire, for the Armenian Genocide and engage in rapprochement with the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people, and supporting the accession of Turkey to the European Union if Turkey meets certain criteria.

United States · United States Congress · 29 June 2005

Commemorates the victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. Calls upon: (1) the President to commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide; and (2) the government of the Republic of Turkey to acknowledge the culpability of its predecessor state, the Ottoman Empire, for the Armenian Genocide, and to promote rapprochement with the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people. Supports the Republic of Turkey's accession to the European Union (EU) if Turkey acknowledges culpability, pursues rapprochement, and meets other EU accession criteria, and calls upon the EU to look with favor upon such actions by the government of the Republic of Turkey. Calls upon the President, the Secretary of State, the EU, and others to assist the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian people in this process.

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the United States-European Union Summit.

United States · United States Congress · 20 June 2005

Welcomes the European Union leadership to the 2005 United States-European Union Summit in Washington, DC. Highlights the importance of the United States and the European Union working together to address global challenges. Recommends: (1) expanded political dialogue between Congress and the European Parliament; and (2) that the Summit focus on both short and long-term measures to expand the transatlantic relationship. Encourages: (1) adoption of practical measures to expand the United States-European Union economic relationship by reducing obstacles to economic integration; and (2) expanded cooperation between Congress and the European Parliament on global security issues.

To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain payments made to the European Union in lieu of income taxes to a member of the European Union as income taxes paid to a foreign country for purposes of the foreign tax credit.

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 2005

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow taxpayers who pay employment taxes to the European Union a foreign tax credit for such payments.

[H.N.S.C. No. 109-35]ARMS EXPORTS TO THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA BY MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

United States · United States House of Representatives · 14 April 2005

Expressing the sense of Congress relating to a free trade agreement between the United States and the European Union (EU).

United States · United States Congress · 13 April 2005

Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should expand trade opportunities with the European Union (EU) by initiating negotiations to enter into an EU free trade agreement.

A resolution urging the European Union to maintain its arms export embargo on the People's Republic of China.

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 2005

Supports the U.S. embargo on the People's Republic of China (PRC). Urges the European Union (EU) to: (1) continue its ban on all arms exports to the PRC; (2) make its Code of Conduct on Arms Exports legally enforceable in all EU states; (3) more carefully regulate the end-use of military and dual-use technology; and (4) increase transparency in its arms and dual-use export control regimes. Encourages the U.S. Government to make clear that a lifting of such EU arms embargo would potentially adversely affect transatlantic defense cooperation, including future transfers of U.S. military technology, services, and equipment to EU countries. Deplores the ongoing human rights abuses in the PRC. Urges the United States and the EU to develop a common strategy to seek: (1) human rights improvement in the PRC; (2) an end to the PRC's military build-up aimed at Taiwan; (3) improvement in the PRC's export control practices; (4) an end to the proliferation by state-sponsored entities in the PRC of technology related to weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles; and (5) an end to the proliferation by state and non-state owned entities and individuals in the PRC of military equipment involving countries, such as Burma and Sudan, whose armies have played a role in human rights violations against members of ethnic and religious minorities.

A resolution urging the European Union to add Hezbollah to the European Union's wide-ranging list of terrorist organizations.

United States · United States Congress · 15 March 2005

Urges the European Union (EU) to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Condemns Hezbollah's continuous terrorist attacks, and its support of Palestinian terrorist organizations on the EU terrorist list, such as the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

URGING THE EUROPEAN UNION TO ADD HFZBOLLAH TO THE EUROPEAN UNION'S WIDE- RANGING LIST OF TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

United States · United States House of Representatives · 3 March 2005

A resolution urging the European Union to maintain its arms export embargo on the People's Republic of China.

United States · United States Congress · 17 February 2005

Supports the U.S. embargo on the People's Republic of China (PRC). Urges the European Union (EU) to continue its ban on all arms exports to the PRC. Urges the United States and the EU to develop a common strategy to seek: (1) human rights improvement in the PRC; (2) an end to the PRC's military build-up aimed at Taiwan; (3) improvement in the PRC's export control practices; and (4) an end to the ongoing proliferation by state-sponsored entities in the PRC of technology related to weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.

Urging the European Union to add Hezbollah to the European Union's wide-ranging list of terrorist organizations.

United States · United States Congress · 15 February 2005

Urges the European Union (EU) to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Condemns Hezbollah's continuous terrorist attacks, and its support of Palestinian terrorist organizations on the EU terrorist list, such as the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.

Urging the European Union to maintain its arms embargo on the People's Republic of China.

United States · United States Congress · 1 February 2005

Reaffirms the U.S. arms embargo on the People's Republic of China (PRC), and finds that policies by the United States and other countries which promote democratic rather than military development in the PRC will help assure a stable and peaceful Asia and Pacific region. Deplores the recent increase in arms sales by member states of the European Union (EU) to the PRC and the European Council's decision to finalize work toward lifting its arms embargo on the PRC. Declares that such a development in European security policy is inconsistent with the mutual security interests that lie at the heart of U.S. laws for transatlantic defense cooperation at both the governmental and industrial levels and would necessitate unwelcome constraints in these relationships. Requests the President to urge European leaders to reconsider such course of action and, instead, work to prevent any future sale of arms or related technology to the PRC.