WRITTEN QUESTION E-3590/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Ibero-American Summit — conclusions and prospects.
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Latin America, Portugal, Rio Group, Spain, cooperation policy, summit meeting

C 78 E/602

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-3585/03, E-3587/03, E-3607/03 and E-3700/03
given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(30 January 2004)

The Commission would refer the Honourable Members to the reply it gave to written question P-3693/03
by Mr Laschet (1).

(1) See page 313.

(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 (cid:1) 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:

(cid:1) what information does it have as to the Summit and its conclusions? What conclusions does it draw;

(cid:1) recognising Latin America’s historical heritage, a system of values close to those of Europe, and the
in what way does the Commission intend to work together with the
common linguistic heritage,
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;

(cid:1) 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;

(cid:1) what aid is it prepared to provide, specifically for setting up the Ibero-American community

representation, infrastructure and facilities on Community territory?

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/603

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.

(2004/C 78 E/0638)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3596/03

by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: EU border controls

There is evidence that fisheries products are being imported into the EU, mainly via EEA countries, from
third-country factory vessels which are not authorised to export to the EU. As well as being more
economically competitive than products from EU fisheries, as money is saved by omitting to make the
investments necessary to ensure hygienic conditions during fishing and processing, these imports are
unsafe from a health point of view, and should be regarded as posing a health risk.

I am aware that there is an comprehensive body of Community legislation laying down the procedures to
be followed at border inspection posts as regards the import of products of animal origin,
including
fisheries products from third countries.

Commission services and officials are doing all they can in the course of their inspections to uncover
irregularities at Community border inspection posts.

I am further aware that the EEA countries have laid down statutory regulations for fisheries products
which correspond or are equivalent to EU regulations.

According to Community rules, fisheries products which are imported into the EU from third countries via
EEA countries should be checked at the border inspection posts of the EEA countries.

However, significant quantities of fisheries products which do not comply with EU regulations still enter
the Community economic area via these border inspection posts, and this is an open secret among
economic operators in North East Atlantic and North Sea regions.