Fine Gael has called on the Government to set up a transatlantic foundation at Shannon to work to improve relations between the European Union and the United States.
The party's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Gay Mitchell, said at the weekend that this was necessary after a period of transatlantic tension and disagreement over Iraq. "There is too much at stake, not only in terms of trade but also common history, experience and culture to allow the transatlantic relationship to decline," he said. Mr Mitchell and his party leader, Mr Enda Kenny, proposed the idea during a visit to Shannon on Saturday. Mr Kenny said the "row" between the EU and the US needed to be healed, and that Ireland was in a good position to assist in this.
He said that if Europe had been able to act collectively it could have brought to the Iraq conflict "a more enlightened view of the global interest". He said the US Secretary of State Colin Powell had called the tensions between his country and some EU states "one heck of a row".
"Where better to heal the fractured relationship between the two blocs than Ireland: proudly European, America's friend."
The Foundation for Transatlantic Co-operation would seek to promote understanding and co-operation between the two continents by fostering political, cultural, business, trade union, religious and other links. It would provide for the exchange of views and ideas and carry out research on issues of mutual concern.
Mr Mitchell said the president of such a foundation should be a prominent American and the secretary-general a prominent European.