Washington, 16 December 1996 (RFE/RL) - U.S. President Bill Clinton, Ireland's Prime Minister John Bruton and European Commission President Jacques Santer are meeting in Washington today for a summit which aims to forge a new framework for relations between Europe and the United States.
Bruton is present because his country currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU. After their talks, the three leaders are scheduled to meet with reporters.
Today's meeting marks the first anniversary of the EU's adoption of a new formal approach to its relations with the United States.
In the final document of the summit Saturday of EU leaders in Dublin, the 15-nation bloc said it expects the meeting with Clinton will mark what it called "another milestone" in EU-U.S. relations.