{ "id": "RL31956", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RL31956", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 310905, "date": "2005-12-21", "retrieved": "2016-04-07T19:24:19.532029", "title": "European Views and Policies Toward the Middle East", "summary": "Managing policy differences on a range of issues emanating from the Middle East poses serious\nchallenges for the United States and its European allies and friends. The most vitriolic dispute has\ncentered on the conflict in Iraq. However, divisions over how best to approach the ongoing\nIsraeli-Palestinian conflict, manage Iran and Syria, and combat terrorism also persist. The Bush\nAdministration and Members of Congress are concerned that continued disagreements between the\ntwo sides of the Atlantic could both constrain U.S. policy choices in the region and erode the broader\ntransatlantic relationship and counterterrorism cooperation over the longer term. The U.S.-initiated\nBroader Middle East and North Africa partnership project seeks to encourage reforms in the region\nand U.S.-European cooperation in tackling Mideast problems. This initiative was welcomed by the\n9/11 Commission, which recommended that the United States \"should engage other nations in\ndeveloping a comprehensive coalition strategy against Islamist terrorism.\" The Intelligence Reform\nand Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 ( P.L. 108-458 ) contains elements that seek to promote Middle\nEast development and reform and enhance international cooperation against terrorism.\n Many analysts assert that the United States and Europe share common vital interests in the\nMiddle East: combating terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; promoting\nMiddle East peace and stability; ensuring a reliable flow of oil; and curtailing Islamic extremism. \nU.S. and European policies to promote these goals often differ considerably. Although the European\ngovernments are not monolithic in their opinions on the Middle East, European perspectives have\nbeen shaped over time by common elements unique to Europe's history and geostrategic position. \nMany Europeans believe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should be a priority. They view it as a key\ndriver of terrorism, Islamic extremism, and political unrest among Europe's growing Muslim\npopulations. In contrast, the U.S. Administration stresses that terrorism and weapons proliferation\nare the primary threats and must be pro-actively confronted; peace and stability in the region will not\nbe possible until these twin threats are removed. A number of other factors, such as divergent\nperceptions of the appropriate role of the use of force and growing European Union (EU) ambitions\nto play a larger role on the world stage, also contribute to the policy gaps that have emerged. \n How deep and lasting the clash over Iraq and subsequent Middle East policies will be to\ntransatlantic relations will likely depend on several factors, including whether Washington and\nEuropean capitals can cooperate more robustly to rebuild Iraq; whether Europeans perceive a\nrenewed U.S. commitment to revive the Middle East peace process; and whether differences over\nMideast issues spill over into NATO or impede EU efforts to forge a deeper Union. This report will\nbe updated as events warrant. For more information, see CRS Report RL31339 , Iraq: U.S.\nRegime\nChange Efforts and post-Saddam Governance ; CRS Issue Brief IB91137, The Middle\nEast Peace\nTalks ; CRS Report RL32048 , Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses ; CRS Issue Brief IB92075,\n Syria: U.S. Relations and Bilateral Issues ; and CRS Report RL31612(pdf) , European\nCounter-terrorist\nEfforts: Political Will and Diverse Responses in the First Year after September 11 .", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL31956", "sha1": "7919ed602f6beca3b1fbc0e29f7e32187ed452ea", "filename": "files/20051221_RL31956_7919ed602f6beca3b1fbc0e29f7e32187ed452ea.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL31956", "sha1": "fdc5feb7375368cd056aaa8979e64a8799cde6de", "filename": "files/20051221_RL31956_fdc5feb7375368cd056aaa8979e64a8799cde6de.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metacrs6248/", "id": "RL31956 2005-03-09", "date": "2005-03-09", "retrieved": "2005-06-11T19:16:28", "title": "European Views and Policies Toward the Middle East", "summary": "Managing policy differences on a range of issues emanating from the Middle East poses serious challenges for the United States and its European allies and friends. The most vitriolic dispute has centered on the conflict in Iraq. However, divisions over how best to approach the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, manage Iran and Syria, and combat terrorism also persist. How deep and lasting the clash over Iraq and subsequent Middle East policies will be to transatlantic relations will likely depend on several factors, including whether Washington and European capitals can cooperate more robustly to rebuild Iraq; whether Europeans perceive a renewed U.S. commitment to revive the Middle East peace process; and whether differences over Mideast issues spill over into NATO or impede EU efforts to forge a deeper Union.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20050309_RL31956_b43a27a67bc7b4d2e4a08d5615e789ae8dd0b342.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20050309_RL31956_b43a27a67bc7b4d2e4a08d5615e789ae8dd0b342.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - Middle East - European Union", "name": "Foreign relations - Middle East - European Union" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - European Union - Middle East", "name": "Foreign relations - European Union - Middle East" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - Middle East - U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations - Middle East - U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Middle East", "name": "Foreign relations - U.S. - Middle East" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - European Union - U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations - European Union - U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations - U.S. - European Union", "name": "Foreign relations - U.S. - European Union" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc808666/", "id": "RL31956_2004Jan20", "date": "2004-01-20", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "European Views and Policies Toward the Middle East", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20040120_RL31956_a19997b978110b47c1edda2b916c032c82651ab7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20040120_RL31956_a19997b978110b47c1edda2b916c032c82651ab7.html" } ], "topics": [] } ], "topics": [ "Foreign Affairs", "Intelligence and National Security" ] }