expected as early as monday morning. we'll carry that live on c-span and online-c-span.org -- online at c-span.org. >> vice president joe biden spoke to european and private -- european parliament members on thursday. he urged lawmakers to approve a plan for the u.s. to access bank records in europe. this is a half-hour period. .

[applause] >> dear vice president, excellencies, dear a former chairman of the senate foreign relations committee and the judiciary committee, he is known to speak his mind. sometimes to defend courses that are far from popular at the time. he lives opinions. he does not fall opinions.

-- follow opinions. this is why your speech is so important, so crucial for all of us. so let me thank you once again for a very warm invitation and a very constructive and fruitful discussion in washington. dear colleagues, in two days, europe and america can and should work together in a partnership for values we believe in. vice-president biden's visit to the european union today demonstrates this commitment. it is a partnership as equal partners, the united states and the european union. we cannot find lasting

solutions to many challenges that we face still hitting all of us, terrorists, and defending free trade. colleagues, 25 years ago, almost to the day, president ronald reagan addressed this parliament on may 8, 1982 -- 1985. this was the last and so far only time that a u.s. president has spoken to this democratically elected body. your visit is a symbol of the renewal of that dialogue at the highest level between our two countries.

this gives the possibility to act. in america, one year under president obama's leadership, a very new hope for the world. the timing for your address, mr. vice president, could not be at a better time. the floor is yours. >> thank you. [applause]

mr. president, thank you for that welcome. it was a delight to have you in washington and at the white house, in it is a great honor, and i might add, -- and it is a great honor, and i might add a privilege. i served in parliament that had fewer members total. this is even a greater honor. i remember president reagan's speech here in 1985, and to quote an irish poet, he said, "all is changed, changed utterly, a terrible beauty has been born." much has changed since 1985.

much has changed, and a terrible beauty has been born. as you already know, ladies and gentlemen, not only am i pleased to be back here in brussels for the second time as vice president, as you probably know, some american politicians and american journalists refer to washington, d.c., as the capital of the free world, but it seems to me that in this great city, which boasts 1000 years of history, and which serves as the capital of belgium, the home of the european union, and the headquarters for nato, this city has its own legitimate claim to that title. as a lawmaker for more than 36 years in our parliament, i feel particularly honored to address the european parliament. president obama and i were the first running mates in the last 50 years in america to make it

to the white house from our legislative bodies, so we both come to our executive jobs with a deeper appreciation for the work you do here -- with a deep appreciation for the work you do here. together with my colleagues in the united states congress, we represent more than 800 million people. stop and think about that for a moment. two elected bodies that shape the loss for almost 1/8 of the population. that is truly remarkable. and now, under the lisbon treaty, you have taken on more powers and a broader responsibility that comes with that increased influence, and we welcome it. we welcome that because we, the united states, need strong allies and alliances to help tackle the problems of the 21st century, many of which are the

same, but so many are different. let me state it as plainly as i can. the obama-biden administration has no doubt about the need for and strongly supports a vibrant european union. we believe it is absolutely essential to american prosperity and long-term security, so have no doubt about that. when i chaired the united states foreign relations committee for all of those years, i had the opportunity to meet many european lawmakers from the national legislative bodies, including some of you who are in this room today. so i appreciate after all of those years -- i appreciate what a consequential step it has been to build the only multinational parliament in the world, elected by universal

suffrage. so much has changed, and i am pleased that through the transatlantic legislative dialogue, you are building a strong relationship with the united states congress, and i hope that you office -- back office you opened in washington last month is going to enhance those ties -- and i hope that the office you opened in washington last month is going to enhance those ties. celebrations erupted in times square and piccadilly circus, cheering crowds dancing along the champs-elysees, and here in brussels, in thanksgiving service, churchgoers sang. on that joyous day, may 8, 1945,

this continent lay in ruins, ravaged twice by total wars in less than 30 years. at that moment, a peaceful, united europe, a european parliament must have seemed like a fantasy to anyone alive, and yet, through the will of your fellow citizens and statesmen, like the one for whom this room is named and others, including one who got the presidential medal of freedom, here we are, assembled in this hall. here you are. what began as a simple pact among half a dozen nations to create a common market for steel, it grew into an economic

and political powerhouse, a community dedicated to free thought and free enterprise, a europe that one historian has called not so much a place but an idea, and i am here to reaffirm that president obama and i believe in this idea and in a better world and better europe it has already helped to bring about, a europe where all member states benefit by negotiating trade agreements and fighting -- a europe that bolsters the political and cultural values that my country shares with all of you. a europe that is whole. a europe that is free. and a europe that is at peace. [applause]

has president obama said in prague a little more than a year ago, -- as president obama said that, we need strong partners. this is why we will do everything we can to support this great endeavor of yours, because the past 65 years have shown that when americans and europeans devote their energies to a common purpose, there is almost nothing that we are not able to accomplish. together, through the marshall plan, we rebuilt europe. together, we built the most enduring security alliance, nato, an apolitical force that tied people together and brought us even closer we and a political force -- we built the most enduring security alliance, nato, and a political force that tied people together and

brought as even closer. and together, we have provided relief and hope for those suffering humanitarian catastrophes in more places than i can mention, from the western balkans to our work in haiti today. to those who continue to question the transatlantic relationships or my country's attitude towards a united europe, in answer is this. even if the united states -- my answer is this. even if the united states did not share these things, our global interest alone would bind us together. the relationship between my country in europe is today as strong and as important to all of us as it has ever been. this century has unleashed new

challenges no less dangerous than those that came before in the 20th century, and together, together, we are taking them on one by one. they are difficult. there will be disagreements, but we are taking them on jointly. climate change, one of the greatest threats we face, the united states and europe are working together to ensure that all countries and major economies are contributing to a solution. we all look to, and we did take, a major step forward in copenhagen. now, we have to carry out those emission cuts, and we must help the most vulnerable nations from the arctic north to others that are the harbingers of this looming crisis. afghanistan and pakistan. we are working together to defeat taliban and al qaeda

fighters and to train a police force in afghanistan so they can protect their own people and not be a threat to its neighbors, in order to build up their governing capacity. we are deploying a significant financial resources and civilian resources, as well -- we are deploying significant financial resources. as leaders, we have an obligation to make the case to our populations that this is necessary for our collective security. although, believe me, as a politician who has stood for office for the last 38 years, i understand it is not easy. i assure you, it is no more popular in my country van is in any one of yours -- in my country than it is in any one of

your. iran -- any one of yours. together, together, we embarke. and, ladies and gentlemen, despite what some skeptics thought, the president meant what he said that we will reach out to any party that will unclench their fist. at the outset of this administration, president obama said they were prepared to deal with iran on the basis of mutual respect. we have made it clear to iran's leaders have they could begin to rebuild confidence within the international community, including by granting access to their previously undeclared enrichment facilities and

exchanging low-enriched uranium for fuel to power a research reactor, but as the world has now watched and seen iranian leaders spurned our collective good-faith efforts and continue to take efforts that threaten regional security, -- seen iranian leaders spurn our collective good-faith efforts -- it risks sparking a nuclear arms race in the middle east. would it not be ironic, would not be ironic that the iron curtain fell, and the mutual threat diminished among the superpowers that a new arms race will emerge in some of the most unstable parts in the world?

our grandchildren and sugar would not forgive us, in our view, for allowing -- our grandchildren and children would not forgive us, in my view, for allowing that to come to pass. it continues unconscionably to persecute those of its citizens who peacefully take to the streets in pursuit of justice. tehran faces a stark choice. abide by international rules and rejoin the community of responsible nations, which we hope for, or face further consequences and increasing isolation. in the face of the threat iran poses, we are committed to the security of our allies. that is why we deploy the missile defense program, to deter and defend against missile attacks on this continent, on

this continent. ladies and gentlemen -- [applause] we are also working together inside nato to range for future -- to arrange other things, including cybersecurity, and we support close working between nato and the eu. there was quick and decisive action when the world was reeling from a financial crisis. in doing so, collectively, we helped prevent what people were predicting, the total collapse of the world economy. today, president obama and i are closely following the economic and financial crisis in greece and the european union's efforts to deal with it. we welcome the support package that europe is considering in addition to that of the

international monetary fund, and we will be supportive of your efforts as you rescue greece. these examples and many others i could have mentioned show why europe continues to be not only our largest trading partner but our largest ally. our predecessors came together more than six decades ago this week to ensure that the 21st century's darkest chapters would not be repeated -- that the 20th century's darkest chapters would not be repeated. there has been a great success, but now, we have to set our sights on the challenges of this new country i referenced in the beginning. our world has changed. it has changed utterly. a terrible beauty has been born. perhaps, the most complex threat we face today is that posed to

our own citizens by non state actors and by extremists, particularly, if god forbid, those extremists were able to get their hands on weapons of mass destructions. this courage has no respect for borders, nine. -- the surge -- scourge has no respect for borders, none. the new powers granted this parliament in the lisbon treaty gave you a greater role in that struggle and a greater imperative to govern responsibly. the u.s. government and this parliament have struggled over how best to protect citizens without yielding define additional rights on which all of our societies are built -- without yielding a foundational

rights. -- the foundational rights. we must preserve our liberties. since taking office last year, president obama and i have been guided by our constitution to seek a more perfect union. toward that end, one of our first official actions was to end the interrogation practices that produced few results and that we could not in good conscience continue. [applause] we ordered the closure of the detention center at guantanamo bay, which had become a symbol of injustice and a rallying cry for terrorists, and we appreciate -- [applause] and we appreciate the support, difficult as it has been for you to take.

-- to take, so many of you have provided in this effort. like you, president obama and i reject the false choice between safety and our ideals. we believe that of holding our principles only makes us stronger and that compromising them actually undermine their efforts in the broader struggle against violent extremism. what is their purpose? their purpose is to change what we value, change how we conduct ourselves. eight days after the september 11 attack, i told a group of a thousand university students in my country that they cannot allow the tragedy of 9/11 to and our way of life, because that is exactly what the terrorists sought -- the tragedy of 9/11 to end our way of life.

the words not only fit the tenor of that time, but i think they have proven to be true, and they are no less true today. i do not need to tell the audience about europe's proud tradition of protecting citizens, a commitment grounded in respect for the inherent dignity of all people. we call them "inalienable rights." we wrote to them into our constitution, and america's commitment to privacy is also a profound, as profound as yours. -- is also a profound -- is also profound. "the right to be left alone." the supreme court of the united

states has made it clear that privacy is a constitutionally protected and fundamental right, and like the eu, the supreme court has characterized this right as a matter of personal dignity. on a personal level, i have for 36 years of my career defended privacy rights. in the united states senate, every year, there are those organizationn most committed to civil liberties, and every year, -- the reason i bother to tell you this is not about me, but about the commitment of our administration. to change now would make a lot of everything i have said i stood for -- would make a lie of

everything i have said i stood for. when i led the senate judiciary committee, as i said, i was consistently ranked among the staunchest advocates of civil liberties, and i made it a priority to determine that views of prospective judges before deciding whether or not they could go on the court. but president obama and i also believe that the most solemn duty of the government is to protect its citizens, the citizens it serves, as well as the rights they hold. president obama has said that keeping our countries safe is the first thing he thinks about when he wakes up in the morning and the last thing he thinks about before he goes to bed at night. i suspect that is out every world leader looks at their role -- that is how everyone leader looks at their role --

every world leader looks at their role. physical safety is also an inalienable right. and so, folks, even as we gather here today, our enemies are employing every tool they can muster to create new and devastating attacks, like the ones that struck in new york, london, madrid, and many other places around the globe. to stop them, we must use every legitimate tool available, law enforcement, technology, that is consistent with our laws and our values. we are fighting on every fronts, from the brave men and women serving abroad in our military is to be patient and tireless law enforcement professionals

investigating complex financial networks. -- the brave men and women serving abroad in our military is -- militaries to the patient and tireless law enforcement professionals. it has provided critical leans to -- critical leads, ultimately saving lives. it has built-in redundancies. but i do not blame you for questioning. we understand your concerns. as a consequence, we are working together to address this, and i absolutely confident that we can

succeed to both use the tool and guarantee privacy. it is important that we do so, and it is important that we do so as quickly as possible. as a former united states senator, i also know how hard it can be to make hard choices required while staying true to local values. all of you are going through that every time you vote in this parliament, i suspect. the longer we are without an agreement on the terrorist tracking program, the greater the risk of a terrorist attack that could have been prevented. as leaders, we share the responsibility to do everything within the law to protect the people we collectively serve. we have disagreed before. we will surely disagree again. but i am convinced that the europe and the and not -- that europe and united states can do this if we talk and listen to one another. one another.