EU 'should relax' over US differences

Straw says the US-Europe bond must continue

Europe has to be more mature about its differences with the United States, according to UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

Mr Straw, who is flying to America on Tuesday, is due to use a speech to underline the need for the unity between the European Union and the US.

We get very twitchy about our relations with the US because it's not a symmetrical relationship

Jack Straw
Foreign Secretary

The US has withdrawn its support for plans for an international criminal court, and there are further differences with the EU on steel tariffs, climate change and biological weapons.

But Mr Straw said there were similar "pretty substantial differences" among European states on other issues.

He pointed to the UK's divisions with France over liberalisation of energy markets, British beef exports and asylum and with Germany over financial services regulation.

'Getting twitchy'

"We have worked out a way of accommodating our concerns," the minister told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"I think we get very twitchy about our relations with the US because it's not a symmetrical relationship."

America's superpower status did mean it was not a question of differences between equals, said Mr Straw.

But Europe had to be more "mature and relaxed" about those arguments.

'Profound bond'

On the international criminal court issue, for example, the US did support the principles involved, he said.

Mr Straw continued: "The fundamental strength of the relationship between Europe and the United States is an enduring one.

"That is one based on the values of freedom and democracy."

That bond needed to be sustained, he added.

On the first day of his US visit, Mr Straw will meet with congressional leaders, as well as dining with the UK's ambassador, Sir Christopher Meyer.