Madrid, 18/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - The 6th EU/Latin America and Caribbean Summit was still underway at the time of going to press on Tuesday 18 May. The 60 participant countries reiterated their determination to deepen their economic as well as political relations. Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner expressed at the opening of the meeting her great concern regarding the fate reserved for emigrants from Latin American and Caribbean countries to developed, and hence European, countries. This showed the extent to which the historical ties between the two geographical entities are up against major challenges - especially since the economic and financial crisis. “We have witnessed with great concern the discriminatory treatment of immigrants in developed countries”, Kirchner said on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean side. She deplored the fact that these immigrants are often considered as enemies when they hold posts refused by European nationals in the host countries. The provisions of the final declaration of the Madrid Summit on migration were among the most difficult points to be negotiated. Wishing to show that Europe had heard the message, Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero noted the impact that the crisis has on the situation of immigrants in Europe.
Regional integration. When asked the day before about the possibility that the EU might one day join a single Latin-American and Caribbean bloc, the European leaders backed the regional integration process. “Our heart is in favour of regional integration”, confirmed European Commission President José Manuel Durão Barroso. “Experience shows that economic and political union promotes stability”, when faced with the risks of globalisation, Zapatero said. “Europe, like Rome, was not made in a day”, put in European Council President Herman Van Rompuy, saying has been a permanent worksite involving a growing number of member states that has led to coal and steel being brought under Community scope followed by customs and then monetary union. On the subject of regional integration, the EU can bear witness to its experience but has “no lessons to give”, he added. (M.B./transl.tfl)