Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2002-05-29-Speech-3-099"
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"en.20020529.7.3-099"2
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"Mr President, the Presidency-in-Office of the Council has enjoyed the support of this House and coordination with the Commission throughout the preparation for the second EU/Latin American and Caribbean Summit, and throughout the summit itself. Parliament was properly represented at the summit sessions and during the preparatory work. Its constant support has proved most useful.
Mr President, the Presidency-in-Office is pleased with the debate generated. In addition, the Presidency is grateful for Parliament’s unfailing encouragement and would like to acknowledge publicly the support and inspiration this House has always offered.
I believe everything we have heard in this debate confirms my impression and this process. True, shortcomings have been identified, and we could all have hoped to achieve more, make faster progress, and for the outcome to be more meaningful. It is always possible to expect more from a process. I do however honestly believe that any assessment of the summit has to acknowledge that its results have been satisfactory. This is substantiated by media reports in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean and also through direct contacts with political leaders in Latin American countries. In particular, the summit is deemed to have developed political, economic and cultural dialogue between two parts of the world called upon to establish closer links and understand each other better.
I believe the European Parliament has been at the forefront of these negotiations and has served as a touchstone. A number of speakers have already made this clear. It is from your viewpoint as trailblazers that some of you have pointed critically to areas in which you feel frustrated, because we have not made as much progress or achieved as much as we could have hoped and could probably have attained. Our experience within the European Union has however taught us that processes of this nature, such as the one we are ourselves engaged in on our continent, do take time. They involve very many procedures. Progress can be fast, but there are occasions when setbacks are experienced. I have to say quite frankly though, that if we review the relationship between Latin America and the European Union in recent years, taking into account that the Madrid Summit was only the second of its kind, we can appreciate that this is a relatively new process. A date has already been set, however, for the third summit, in Mexico, which will take place in two years’ time. Consequently the interval between summits is now shorter, and we can assume the relationship has become established. I agree that a great many meetings and significant public ceremonies are crammed into the day or day and a half a summit lasts. It is however important not to overlook the preparatory work which begins long before a summit. In this case, the work was triggered by Parliament and pursued determinedly by the Commission. The Swedish and Belgian Presidencies were very involved with the groundwork for matters that would be dealt with during the Spanish Presidency. I honestly believe that the result is positive and that we can congratulate ourselves.
Mr Salafranca mentioned Colombia, and rightly so. I believe it is very important to keep Colombia in mind. This country has endured more than its fair share of crime and violence, but has now elected a new government democratically. The incoming government deserves the same trust and support from the international community, and in particular from the European Union, which has long been involved in peace and development in Columbia, as it has had from the Colombian people.
Speaking as a Spaniard, I endorse what several honourable Members said, namely that it is good to have non-Spaniards involved with Latin America. In this connection, I very much welcome the Commission’s ALBAN programme. It promises to be of great benefit as it opens up all European universities to postgraduate students. In the past, such students were channelled to the United States, or sometimes to Spain, because a strong bilateral programme was in place. I believe it is very important for postgraduate students across Latin America and the Caribbean to be able to choose what they consider to be the most reputable and appropriate university or higher education institution in which to pursue their studies. In this way, the relationship between our regions will be strengthened still further. The relationship is not merely a political one, centred on the Madrid Summit. After all, a summit only involves Heads of State and of Government. It should be borne in mind that before, during, and even after the summit, a great many meetings involving what could broadly be termed civil society took place. Relationships were created and reliable channels of information established to allow information to flow freely between the Commission, the Presidency of the Council and authorities in the Latin American countries.
It is only right today to commend all the work underpinning what was approved at the summit. It was excellent work involving many individuals. As is usual at such Councils, issues were approved in a few hours. One should however remember that they were previously the subject of lengthy discussion.
In conclusion, Mr President, it is my view that the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean have strengthened their political, economic, cultural, educational and social links. The European Union is currently engaged in a process of internal consolidation. Nonetheless, it, as a world player, is called upon to be actively involved in a part of the world with which it shares so many principles and values.
What took place after 1492 was the grafting of a European element on to a pre-existing reality. This resulted in what we term the Western world. The centre of gravity shifted westwards. We share principles and values we had developed here. Nowadays they are enshrined in expressions such as democracy, the rule of law, gender equality and respect for human rights. The situation is precarious in some cases, and continual monitoring and support are needed. Nonetheless, the European Union is a lodestar for Latin America and for the Caribbean. It serves as a social model, an economic model, a political model, and also as a model of integration. We could point to the successful integration of the European Union, located on a far more heterogeneous and diverse continent, and faced with the challenge of so many European languages. Our challenge was far greater than that facing Spanish and Portuguese-speaking Latin America and the Caribbean. Despite all this, European Union integration has been a resounding success. It can be an example for the people of Latin America and the Caribbean and I think it is incumbent on us to help them rise to this challenge.
A strengthened relationship will be in our mutual interest. We have no wish to act against any other party. Instead, as Mr Linkohr stated, we hope to exploit opportunities in areas where we are currently facing difficulties and uncertainties."@en1
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