At the end of the week the two-day EU–Latin America and Caribbean Summit ended in Vienna. Senior representatives from sixty countries, including the Slovenian Prime Minister, Janez Janša, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dimitrij Rupel, discussed strengthening of cooperation.
FOTO: BOBO
The PM assessed this year's EU –LAC Summit as extremely interesting, as it was a way for the EU to meet a region which is internally divided, both with regard to levels of development and the level of institutional cooperation with the EU.
The PM said the discussion proved that the countries which had a higher level of cooperation with the EU, such as Mexico and Chile, also had good, chiefly economic, results. ''Poverty was the key problem emphasised during the debate. In these countries two hundred million people live below the poverty line, and the poverty line is defined much lower than in the EU. There were many requests for the EU to increase its development aid. Although the EU contributes fifty per cent of all development aid in the world, tthis sum is likely to be raised,'' explained Mr Janša.
FOTO: BOBO
In the second part of the summit the Prime Minister addressed the audience. He stressed that we could not neglect the fact that only economic growth provides a real basis for wealth. He reminded the audience of the amount of EU development aid to the region and to the poorer countries of the world in general, and made an appeal for a different approach to globalisation. ''The developed countries, and the EU in particular, have a special responsibility not only to raise funds for development aid, but also to open their markets to products from this area, including agricultural produce. Only this will facilitate progress in these countries on the basis of real economic growth, the real development of their own economies and agriculture. One does more by enabling someone to sell their products than by providing them with aid to keep the poverty line at a certain level,'' said the Prime Minister.
FOTO: BOBO
The Prime Minister also met the president of Mexico, Mr Vincente Fox Quesada. Mr Janša explained that the Slovenian delegation wanted to solve concrete issues between the countries. ''I am referring to two agreements, negotiations on which are at a standstill – the Agreement on the Protection of Investment, and the Agreement on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation. I expect that after the talks the agreements will be finalised and signed quickly, and trade will increase accordingly. There is potential, there is the interest of Slovenian companies regarding the manufacturing of auto parts, and the pharmaceutical industry,'' emphasised the PM, adding that the Mexican side had expressed a particular interest in our experience in forestry and wood-processing industry. Reforestation is currently an important project in Mexico. Slovenia has much know-how and experienced staff in this area. ''That is how we will be able to collaborate in this area, as well,'' Prime Minister Janša concluded.
