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12/5/2006 The 25 Heads of State and Government of the European Union and 33 of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) are holding their 4th Summit in Vienna (Austria) on 12 May 2006. It is attended by President José Manuel Barroso, accompanied by three Commissioners: External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Development and Humanitarian Aid Commissioner, Louis Michel, and Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson. The overall theme is the “Strengthening of the Bi-regional Strategic Association” and the agenda includes discussions on key policy issues such as the promotion of social cohesion, regional integration, and multilateralism. Bilateral and regional meetings will complete in-depth dialogue with LAC countries. President José Manuel Barroso said before the Summit: “In the rapidly moving international environment, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean appear to be each other’s most natural partners to promote their convergent values and principles. It is up to us to take advantage of this Summit to make our partnership stronger and more effective and to engage in closer political dialogue. Vienna is without any doubt an opportunity that we cannot afford to miss”. Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner added: “The EU- LAC partnership has the potential to bring important benefits to both sides. Our commitment to this partnership is clear not least from our willingness to progress on the network of association agreements between us, our assistance programmes under the new Financial perspectives and the continuous support for the region through the European Investment Bank. On the European side we will do everything we can to ensure that the way is clear for a closer partnership – but we look to our counterparts to provide the political will to overcome remaining obstacles on their side. All of us must make an effort to ensure that we can fulfil the whole potential of this relationship”. The Commission expects the Summit to confirm positive developments in the negotiation of an association agreement between the EU and Mercosur, including a free trade area. Taking account of developments in the regional integration processes in Central America and in the Andean Community, the Summit will take decisions on whether it is possible to open negotiations for association agreements (including free trade areas) with those regions. A recently adopted Commission "renewed strategy[1]" on EU relations with Latin America has underlined the EU's strong determination to strengthen the EU-LAC partnership. The strategy includes stepping up political dialogue between the two regions, stimulating economic and commercial exchanges, encouraging regional integration, tackling inequality and tailoring its development and aid policy more closely to real conditions in Latin America. The Summit is also an important opportunity to demonstrate the value that the EU places on relations with the Caribbean. The Commission’s proposal for a new Strategy for the Caribbean was adopted by the Council last month. This strategy promotes a strong partnership between the European Union and the Caribbean on development, the fight against poverty, democracy, human rights and global threats to peace, security and stability. Regional integration and economic diversification, restructuring and reform, constitute a challenge for the mostly small and economically vulnerable Caribbean states. The Strategy highlights how these challenges can be transformed into opportunities with the right ‘policy-mix’ of good and effective governance and support to structural reforms of the economy. Further information on the EU's relations with Latin America at and on the EC external assistance to Latin America at
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