For example, they include: first, that the government should aggressively pursue the identification of NEXUS and Free and Secure Trade, or FAST cards, as approved documents by the U.S. departments of Homeland Security and State; second, that the federal government and the U.S. departments of Homeland Security and State implement pilot projects at major land border crossings on the Canada-U.S. border before WHTI-related requirements, projects and technology are deployed more broadly; third, that the federal government and the U.S. departments of Homeland Security and State develop appropriate protocols that will apply when U.S. resident ...[+++]s lack approved documents to return to the U.S. from Canada; and four, that the federal government and the U.S. said departments convene round tables with relevant stakeholders in both countries to develop and implement an awareness and outreach campaign.

Ms Micheline Calmy-Rey, federal councillor, head of the federal department of foreign affairs of the Swiss Confederation; Ms Ursula Plassnik federal minister for foreign affairs of Austria and president of the EU Council;

Since the start of the US-EU talks in March 2003, the Commission has been able to secure from the United States the undertaking that the American Congress would require the appointment of a chief privacy officer within the Department of Homeland Security who has to report annually to Congress and whose findings are binding on the department.

The U.S. delegation will be led by Acting Undersecretary in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Randy Beardsworth, accompanied by senior officials from the Departments of State and Justice.

The creation of the Department of Homeland Security will have a substantial impact on how and with whom the Canadian intelligence community does business in the U.S. While the final exact shape is not yet known, the DHS will take functions from several existing departments with operational control over security issues related to the U.S. border and to major transportation systems.

Also, the creation of the Department of Homeland Security means that the existing Canada-U.S. relationship and linkages on homeland security issues must be maintained while seeking opportunities to forge new relationships within the leadership of the Department of Homeland Security.