EN Official Journal of the European Union CE 78/602

(2004/C 78 E/0637)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3590/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Ibero-American Summit — conclusions and prospects

The annual Ibero-American Summits, representing 600 million people (i.e. 10 to 12 % of the world's population) have served as a forum for political consultation and concerted action and for tackling specific subjects of common interest to Portugal, the countries of Latin America and Spain, with the objective of giving shape to a genuine Ibero-American Community embracing different continents and uniting Portugal and Spain with the Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries of the Americas, thus providing a bridge between the EU and Latin America.

The 13th summit, which was held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) on 14/15 November 2003, brought together the heads of state and government of the 21 Latin-American countries and was attended by the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. The Latin American countries unanimously decided to approve the establishment of a Permanent Secretariat which will coordinate future summits and, like the regional organisations, could come to play a key role in closer future cooperation between those countries.

On page 12 of the Commission's Latin America Regional Strategy Document 2002-2006 programming we read: ‘The international challenge concerns the capacity of the countries of the region to take a more active part in major international debates, by means of greater internal cohesion and alliances with external partners’, and on page 19, that ‘because of the lack of viability of the role of European and Community aid in Latin America, special efforts will be made to ensure these activities are well publicised’.

The Commission:

— what information does it have as to the Summit and its conclusions? What conclusions does it draw;

— recognising Latin America's historical heritage, a system of values close to those of Europe, and the common linguistic heritage, in what way does the Commission intend to work together with the Ibero-American summit and encourage this particularly well-informed and exceptionally appropriate European involvement, with all it means in terms of cooperation and strengthening links with Latin America;

— how does it view the potential strategic importance to the EU of a more cohesive and integrated Ibero-American community? What measures has it taken or will it take in this connection;

— what aid is it prepared to provide, specifically for setting up the Ibero-American community representation, infrastructure and facilities on Community territory?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(23 December 2003)

The Commission is fully informed on the outcome of the 13th Ibero-American summit which concluded on the 15 November 2003 in Santa Cruz. The theme of the summit and some of its conclusions are fully consistent with one of the main objectives of the Commission in its relations with Latin America: promoting social cohesion.

At the last ministerial meeting between the Union and the Rio Group held in Vouliagmeni, the Member of the Commission responsible for External relations proposed social cohesion as the central theme of the next summit of Heads of State of the Union and Latin America and the Caribbean to be held in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2004. The fact that this theme has been at the centre of the discussions in Santa Cruz encourages the Commission to continue working on this issue. The Commission and the Inter American Development Bank have set up a working group on social cohesion to propose measures in this field that could be submitted to Heads of State in Mexico.

The Commission considers that the development of the Ibero-American Community is very positive for the Union. The participation in this Community of two Member States contributes to strengthening the relations, the dialogue and the understanding between the Union and Latin America.

The Commission considers that the setting up of Ibero-American Community representation is an internal matter and therefore does not envisage any particular initiative in this regard.