Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, President of the Council of the EU, gave a briefing today in advance of the EU-Latin America/Caribbean summit on the priorities at today’s working session of foreign ministers. "This Summit is both an intercontinental and a bi-regional meeting. It is also a symbol of neighbourhood in the global village; after all, representatives of one third of the members of the UN are meeting here in Vienna. All in all, it is a very colourful mosaic", Plassnik stressed, pointing out that numerous meetings of civil society, industry and parliaments were taking place in the margins of the EU-LAC Summit. She said the theme of the summit is above all attentiveness for and interest in each other. "We all face the great challenge of globalisation. The talks will centre on how we deal with this challenge as neighbours. Although our continents are separated by an ocean, our concern for and interest in each other are taking on new forms." She quoted as an example of cooperation Argentina and Chile’s participation in the peacekeeping measures in Kosovo and in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Similarly, the European Union had dispatched election observers to Haiti.
Foreign Minister Plassnik said the fact this meeting was taking place in Vienna, one of the headquarters of the UN, was a clear indicator of close cooperation with that body. She reported that UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan would be attending the meeting. “A key component of our closeness is our common commitment to multilateralism. This involves cooperation in international bodies, such as in the field of human rights.”
A total of twelve themes have been identified for the summit, she said, four of which would be discussed in depth by the foreign ministers in the afternoon. She mentioned democracy, human rights, regional integration, drugs, environmental protection, energy, trade and social cohesion as topics of discussion. “Particularly for the countries of Latin America, social cohesion is immensely important. There are still very big differences in income. Consequently, there is a manifest need to look for ways and means of overcoming these differences. These are also issues which the European Union is studying closely. Our specific European social model is a constant source of interest to our partners in the world. Partnership is the key word in our relationship and dealings with each another. The European Union regards its international engagement as only natural. We want to be a reliable partner in the world”, Plassnik stressed.
"With 50 years of integration behind us, we have had decades during which to develop our special model and we do not intend to play the schoolmaster. We want to be attentive, benevolent and supportive partners and give food for thought. We are providing this forum and hope it will be used", she concluded.
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