The 2008 summit between the European Union (EU) and the United States is due to take place on Tuesday in the capital of Slovenia, which holds the current EU rotating presidency.
The summit will be the last for U.S. President George W. Bush, who will step down next January.
Transatlantic relations, anti-terrorism, Iran, Iraq, and global and regional challenges including climate change and food prices are among the major issues on the summit's agenda.
The following are some facts about the EU-U.S. summit talks in the recent five years:
-- Washington hosted the 2007 summit on April 30.
Bush and EU leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including preventing nuclear proliferation, combating the global threat of terrorism, assisting reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, promoting peace and democracy in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The leaders also discussed efforts to enhance transatlantic cooperation on reducing regulatory and trade barrier and to address energy security and climate change.
-- Vienna hosted the 2006 summit on June 21.
Both sides issued a joint declaration highlighting their cooperation in foreign policy, security and economy while downplaying rifts on human rights issues and trade protectionism.
The two sides of the Atlantic discussed a host of issues ranging from Iran, Iraq, world trade liberalization talks, to the fight against terrorism.
Words like "strategic partnership" and "cooperation" feature prominently in the nine-page joint declaration issued at the end of the annual event, but there was little indication as to which of the two sides will take the lead in making further concessions to salvage the stalled World Trade Organization talks.
-- The 2005 summit was held in Washington on June 20.
Both sides declared a united front to solve nuclear issues in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Iran.
In their joint statements, the United States and EU demanded that the DPRK solve its nuclear issue "in a permanent, transparent, thorough, and verifiable manner," while renewing their support for six-nation diplomacy.
On Iran, the United States and EU reaffirmed their support for talks led by Britain, France and Germany and urged Tehran to freeze uranium enrichment and reprocessing and cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog agency.
They also welcomed Lebanon's elections, saying that they would consider calling an international conference to solicit support for a new government.
On Iraq, Washington and Brussels insisted that deep transatlantic divisions over the war on Iraq were in the past.
-- The 2004 summit was held in Ireland on June 25-26.
Amid tight security and mass anti-war protests, leaders from the two sides wrapped up their annual summit at Dromoland Castle, mid-western Ireland, with both sides stressing their "strong links" and playing down the soured transatlantic relationship due to disputes over the U.S.-led Iraq war.
The situation in Iraq, the Middle East peace process and anti-terrorism topped the discussions between EU and U.S. leaders. The summit also highlighted HIV/AIDS, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Sudan, partnership with the Mediterranean and the Middle East region, as well as the transatlantic economic relationship.
According to the Irish EU presidency, the summit, the first between the United States and the enlarged EU of 25 members states, marked the further deepening of the Washington-Brussels relationship.
-- The 2003 summit took place in Washington on June 25.
Bush and EU leaders agreed to ask Iran to keep its promise not to develop nuclear weapons, but continued to disagree on the trade of genetically modified foods.
Bush also urged Brussels to take measures against the Palestinian militant group of Hamas. Bush said that Hamas must be dismantled as reports from the Middle East said three main Palestinian militant groups including Hamas and Islamic Jihad had agreed to halt attacks on Israelis for three months.
Source: Xinhua
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