Bush's Europe Visit in June Will Focus on War, Trade

WASHINGTON — President Bush, traveling abroad more this year than at any time of his presidency, plans to head to Europe in June to confer with allies on matters of war, terrorism, and trade.

The White House yesterday confirmed the outline of Mr. Bush's trip, which uses the American-European Union summit in Slovenia as a launching point. The president will then travel to Germany, Italy, France, England, and Northern Ireland. While in Italy, the president will visit the Vatican.

The trip is scheduled to run from June 9-16.

The White House press secretary, Dana Perino, said Mr. Bush will mark the 60th anniversary of both the Marshall Plan, the massive American aid program to rebuild Europe after World War II, and the Berlin Airlift, in which America and other Allied forces brought food and supplies to West Berlin during the Soviet blockade.

Such commemoration will underscore "the historic and continuing U.S. role in supporting a Europe increasingly whole, free and at peace," she said.