Welcome!

Sr. Mendel Goldstein
Head of the Delegation of the European Union in Central America and Panama

t is a pleasure for me to address you at the end of 2009. It has been a very busy year, highlighted by the advances in the dialogue between the European Union and the Nicaraguan government, within the framework of global relations between both sides. This dialogue has the objective to strengthen those relations and thus, to continue to support the Nicaraguan population through cooperation programs and other more specific types of aid.

The end of 2009 is also highlighted by the presentation of the new European Commission policy created to consolidate the relations between the EU and Latin America. In the Communication “EU-Latin America: An Association between global actors” the Commission evaluates the situation of the bi-regional relations and summarizes the objectives for the next few years. In light of the next EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit which will take place in Spain in Spring of 2010, this Communication identifies and provides new orientations and political recommendations to face the obstacles that affect both regions, such as climate change, the economic and financial crisis, energy and migration. In addition, it proposes the creation of the Latin American Investment Mechanism (MIAL, acronym in Spanish), which will have a lever effect in order to mobilize resources from financial institutions to finance larger investment projects in energy infrastructure, including energy performance and renewable energy, as well as transport, environment and social cohesion.

Furthermore, the end of 2009 represents an important step in the development of the new external relations policy of the European Commission, towards a new External Relations Service based on the Lisbon Treaty. The referendum has been approved by the Irish, and with the last signature from the Czech Republic, the new European External Action Service under the new High Representative and vice-President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton, will be a reality in the very near future. The Treaty in itself represents a structural improvement in the decision-making process of the EU, which will mean a positive development in the relations between its institutions and Member States, and equally important, with its partners around the world.

I will finish by wishing all of you Happy Holidays, and my most sincere wishes of a New Year full of happiness, hope and peace. I am certain that the relations between our regions will strengthen even more in the next year, and with dedication and hard work we will achieve that objective…together.

Mendel Goldstein
Head of Delegation of the European Union
Central America and Panama