Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-05-29-Speech-3-087"
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"en.20020529.7.3-087"2
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".
Mr President, I am here on behalf of the Presidency-in-Office of the Council to inform Parliament of the results of the summit between the European Union and the Latin American and Caribbean countries held in Madrid on 17 and 18 May.
Firstly, in the political field, there have clearly been significant results such as the firm commitment to fight terrorism and drug trafficking which threaten the whole world, and to this end to strengthen the mechanisms for cooperation between governments. Secondly, strengthening bi-regional political dialogue through agreement within international fora, in particular the United Nations. This agreement will allow those of us who share the same principles and values to deal with the main issues on the international agenda. In this respect, it is absolutely justified to renew the commitment to cooperate in the strengthening of the democratic institutions.
It is on the second aspect, in the economic and social field, that there have been more considerable advances in comparison with the situation resulting from the first summit in Río de Janeiro in June 1999. On the one hand, the entry into force of the Agreement with Mexico, which has had a very positive impact on commercial movements between the European Union and Mexico.
On the other hand – and this is undoubtedly the most important thing – the signing of the association agreement with Chile. All the participants have indicated the great importance of this act following complex and sometimes difficult negotiations which will lead us, as was the case with Mexico, to a privileged relationship with direct social and economic benefits for Chile, but which will go beyond that country and send a message of trust to the whole of Latin America at this time of economic uncertainty, in certain sub-regions in particular.
With regard to Mercosur, there has been progress in the negotiation, of which the political chapter and the chapters on cooperation and the promotion of trade are practically concluded. Furthermore, it has been agreed to continue commercial negotiations with a ministerial meeting in July, which will give impetus to the negotiation despite the adverse circumstances resulting from the situation in Argentina.
With regard to Central America and the Andean Community of nations, we have managed to open the way to the possible negotiation of association agreements with both regions. Meanwhile, agreements on political dialogue and cooperation are being negotiated and cooperation in the field of trade, investments and economic relations is being strengthened.
The intention of all of this is to prepare the ground so that, once the Doha Round is completed, association agreements with these two Latin American sub-regions can be negotiated. In view of the experience with Mercosur, it is essential that we strengthen both integration processes in order to promote the agreements we all aspire to.
I can tell Parliament that the Central Americans have accepted this formula to a large extent, although they would have preferred a more precise timetable that began following the Madrid Summit. The Andean Community has expressed less satisfaction with the agreement reached although they recognise that the formula obtained opens the door to a future association agreement which will replace the unilateral concessions they currently receive through the system of generalised preferences relating to the fight against drug trafficking.
I would like to end my comments on the different geographical areas by mentioning the decision of the Caribbean countries, together with all the ACP countries, to begin negotiations next September for the economic association with the European Union within the framework of Cotonou.
As we can see, these decisions and agreements have a broad perspective, creating fluid and intense relations between the two sides of the Atlantic in the not too distant future which, as I have said, will benefit the societies of both America and Europe.
I would also like to highlight three more issues in this economic field: the decision to cooperate in the eradication of poverty through, amongst other instruments, the strengthening of institutions. Important decisions on this and its consequences were taken at the Monterrey Conference in March, which appeared in its final document known as the Monterrey Consensus.
Following a long preparation period, the preparatory work having begun a year ago under the Swedish Presidency and continued under the Belgian Presidency, we must say that noteworthy results have been achieved at the summit, which are in line with the objectives set by the Spanish Presidency for this six-month period.
Secondly, the creation of better conditions for development and macroeconomic balance, an effort which will involve both the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Investment Bank. Both institutions will thereby be incorporated into the process of strengthening the strategic partnership with all their experience and resources, which is a considerable innovation.
It is also worth mentioning the support for the introduction of the euro, acknowledging its positive effects, as both the Council and the European Central Bank have done at the Madrid Summit.
There are also new elements of interest in the field of cooperation. I will mention the following: the ALIS programme for the development of the information society, a four-year programme which will receive EUR 85 million, of which the Commission will provide 63.5 million and the Latin American countries will provide the rest, until that figure is reached. Although the Commission will be able to provide more information, I would simply like to point out that included in the objectives of the programme are the normalisation of the regulatory framework and the interconnection of networks.
In the field of education, which the summit has paid particular attention to, the new ALBAN scholarship programme is of particular importance. This programme was presented by the Commissioner responsible for External Relations, Mr Patten, within the framework of the Cultural Forum which ran parallel with the summit and brought together cultural foundations and bodies from European and Latin American countries. The programme consists of the funding of – 3900 grants for postgraduate studies, to be provided by the Commission – EUR 75 million – and the European universities participating in the programme – EUR 38 million. I believe that this is a milestone which deserves to be highlighted since it will decisively promote educational cooperation between Europe and Latin America and will allow for the highest-level education for Latin American postgraduate students, with all that this implies in terms of aiding the development of these countries and overcoming the almost unilateral relationship between these societies and the United States of America. I believe this is a very significant programme, and I would therefore like to take this opportunity to thank the Commission for the work it has done through Commissioner Patten.
I should also mention the support which the summit gave to the 2002-2004 Action Plan in the field of higher education with the objectives of improving the quality of education and facilitating the mobility of students.
Mr President, the second European Union/Latin America and the Caribbean Summit has taken place within a none too favourable international context, on either side of the Atlantic. In fact, as well as the economic difficulties resulting from 11 September, difficult situations in several South American countries – the particular situation in Venezuela a month after the serious crisis in April, the peace process interrupted in a climate deeply affected by the unacceptable terrorist violence in Colombia, the profound crisis in Argentina – all of this added to the European preoccupation with enlargement and the various elections taking place at the moment in certain European Union countries, did not appear to offer the best possible climate for the summit.
Nevertheless, the Madrid Summit involved a very large number of participants, achieved very noteworthy concrete results and has been very positively assessed by the participants and, in general, by public opinion.
As a result of the agreements and decisions adopted at the summit, included in a political declaration of 33 points known as the Madrid Commitment, a new phase in our bi-regional relations has begun, which is an important step in the process of consolidating the strategic partnership. The scheduling of the next summit in Mexico in 2004 guarantees the continuity of this process of strengthening and consolidating the bi-regional association. To that end the commitments made in the Madrid Declaration must be suitably followed up so that the Mexico Summit may represent a significant new step in this process of alliance between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean, a process which has always been promoted by this Parliament.
As Parliament knows, the slogan chosen for the summit was "The European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean, promoting a strategic partnership for the twenty-first century", which I believe sums up what we are creating between these two geographical regions: a common area and joint action in the international field between two regions of the world which share principles and values as fundamental as democracy, the Rule of Law, respect for human rights, equality between men and women, the market economy, rational thinking and many others which form the foundation of what we understand to be the western world.
Mr President, the preparatory meetings had grouped the issues for the summit into three areas: political dialogue, economic and trade cooperation and cultural, educational and social cooperation.
The working sessions conformed to these three areas, including the following points, introduced by different countries: the political session dealt with the strengthening and modernisation of the State, cooperation in the fight against terrorism, cooperation in the fight against drug-trafficking, multilateralism and the promotion of democracy, human rights and the Rule of Law.
The session on social policy and cultural and educational cooperation dealt with cultural diversity, the danger of technological backwardness, education, equality and social cohesion, sustainable development and the environment.
Finally, the economic session discussed the international financial architecture, bi-regional trade, international cooperation for sustainable development and development funding, measures to stimulate economic growth and development and, finally, regional integration processes.
Furthermore, there was a working lunch with the President of the European Central Bank and the President of the Inter-American Investment Bank.
Mr President, next I will tell the House what the Presidency believes are the most important results of this summit in the three areas I have mentioned."@en1
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