Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-05-15-Speech-3-016"
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"en.20020515.1.3-016"2
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"Mr President, with the second summit between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean taking place in Madrid this weekend, it is quite right that the European Parliament should today be reviewing its position on relations with these two regions. Latin America indeed continues to face political, economic and social challenges that require Europe and Latin America to work together with mutual respect. The summit is, therefore, an excellent opportunity for defining the strategic framework needed by the European Union to develop a foreign policy involving more balanced association and cooperation with the countries of that area. Seen in that light, a common EU vision of South America is not just strategically important, it also needs to be encouraged at the political level.
The starting point for this common strategy and for EU policy on Latin America should be the principle of association, and it needs to enjoy the support of both sides. Implementing this strategy involves adopting an overall approach so as to encourage relations between the various parties in a consistent and organised way. This does not mean that the European Union should not encourage ever closer cooperation with the individual countries in that part of the American continent, especially given that some of them, such as Argentina and Venezuela, are for various reasons passing through a particularly difficult period. In this context we think there are many advantages to bilateral partnerships between either the European Union or its Member States and various Latin American countries.
These bilateral cooperation arrangements are the precursor of the successful application of the common European strategy. The objective of sharing prosperity by creating a free trade area by 2010 is very important and must not fail to take account of the differing weight of the various partners. In the context of this bi-regional political dialogue, both the European Union and the countries of Latin America need to marshal their forces so as to identify specific initiatives and actions that will provide their relations with a strategic framework which is both authentic and well structured. For example, we need to define a global plan for combating drug trafficking, and also to strengthen agreements on security, which have become increasingly urgent since the terrorist attacks of 11 September. It is also essential to step up trade and to encourage investment in both regions, which implies support from private initiatives in the countries of Latin America as a key aspect of this mutual development strategy.
Lastly, we should not lose sight of the need to defend and strengthen human rights and to promote democracy in all the countries of the region, without exception. I therefore support the proposal for a joint resolution whilst recognising that compromise texts like the one we are debating sometimes lack in clarity what they may gain in parliamentary support."@en1
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