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Brussels, 06 May 2008
EU to meet the Latin
American and Caribbean countries in Lima, 16 May 2008
60 Heads of State and Government from the EU Member States, Latin America and
the Caribbean will gather in Lima, Peru, on May the 16th for the V EU-LAC
Summit. The EU and Latin American and Caribbean leaders will debate two key
themes for the bi-regional agenda: poverty reduction and social cohesion; and
environment, climate change and sustainable development. The Summit should
reinforce cooperation and partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean on
these key subjects, and it will allow participants to voice strong support for
Association Agreements with two Latin American regional organizations, the
Andean Community and Central America. The European Commission will be
represented by the President of the Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso.
Commissioners for External Relations and Neighborhood Policy, Benita
Ferrero-Waldner, for Trade, Peter Mandelson, and for Development and
Humanitarian Aid, Louis Michel, will also participate.
President Barroso said before the Summit "The EU, Latin America and the
Caribbean region must enhance their cooperation to face common challenges ahead,
from climate change to tacking full advantage of globalization and economic
growth for the benefit of a majority of our citizens. We are determined to
support the efforts of our partners in fighting poverty and strengthening
democracy and social cohesion."
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said "Today the fight against poverty has a new
challenge: to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and the
conservation and sustainable exploitation of the biodiversity, natural resources
and energy. The EU and Latin America should integrate this new challenge into
our dialogue and our joint policy response for the benefit of our people. We can
become a world steering force if we address it together."
"As regional markets grow and a former focus on exports to the US is replaced by
more diversified trade, Europe will continue to be a close partner for Latin
America. In the Caribbean we will be marking the transformation of our trade
relations through the signing of an economic partnership agreement that will
bring our economies closer together and encourage diversification and
development. We will pursue ongoing FTA negotiations with Central America, the
Andean Community and Mercosur. I hope that this Summit will reinforce our mutual
commitment to close trading ties and an open global economy - including through
the successful completion of the WTO Doha trade talks." added Commissioner
Mandelson.
The European Union-Latin America-Caribbean Summits are, above all, an occasion
to strengthen and consolidate the bi-regional Strategic Partnership and have
become unique opportunities to develop a fruitful and frank dialogue at the
highest level between Heads of State and Government of both regions on issues of
common interest.
The EU-LAC strategic partnership, which began with the first Sum¬mit of Heads of
State and Government of both regions in Rio in 1999 and was consolidated and
strengthened in Madrid (2002), Guadalajara (2004) and Vienna (2006), reflects
the increasing convergence of interests and values as well as the desire of both
parties to further consolidate and strengthen their relationship in the future.
The 5th EU-LAC Summit in Lima (Peru) on 16-17 May 2008 will be a further
opportunity to consolidate this partnership. The Summit will address the major
challenges frankly and openly, and assess recent developments in both regions.
It will also provide an opportunity to give more visibility to the extensive
cooperation between the two partners, and to analyse the actions and policies
undertaken within the EU-LAC Strategic Partnership. The Summit will particularly
focus on the fight against poverty, inequality and exclusion, or the promotion
of social cohesion, and on important environmental issues, including climate
change, energy and biodiversity.
In the running up to the Lima Summit, a number of important preparatory events
have taken place, such as the EU-LAC Ministerial Conference on the Environment
and the 3rd EU-LAC experts Meeting on migration, both in Brussels in March 2008.
The Summit will be preceded the on May 15th by the second EU-LAC Business Forum
bringing together business and political leaders from Europe and LAC to discuss
the major economic issues facing our economies, and will be followed in May 17th
by Summits between the EU and Mexico, Chile, the Andean Community and Central
America, among others.
Background
Building on long-existing relations between the two regions, the European Union
(EU) has established and built up links with Latin America and the Caribbean
(LAC) since the 1960s and 1970s respectively.
The relationship between the two regions has evolved substantially and today’s
partnership reflects the increasing importance and growing potential of the
Latin American and Caribbean region, and the will of both parties to further
strengthen the relationship in the future. The EU is an important economic and
political partner for the region. It is the leading donor in the region, the
first foreign investor and the second most important trade partner.
Already today, the EU and LAC are working closely together and/or have many
shared views and common principles, at multilateral level, in addressing global
challenges such as the fight against poverty and climate change.
For further information on the Summit:
http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/lac/index_en.htm
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