Brussels, 15/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 15 November during the first visit of a Chilean head of state to the European institutions since the conclusion of the EU/Chile Association agreement in 2002, the Chilean president, Sebastian Piñera, said that he is convinced that Europeans have put the worst of the crisis behind them. He defended “healthy” economic policies as opposed to those that guarantee bread today but hunger tomorrow. According to the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, the EU and Chile will work towards modernising the association agreement. This will involve an extension of the trade chapter through a progressively evolving clause and co-operation in sectors such as new technology, the climate, tourism, raw materials and satellite navigation. The EU is the biggest investor in Chile (30% of total investments) and trade between the two partners has more than doubled since 2002. Piñera's visit also helped make progress in preparations for the next EU/Latin America and Caribbean summit (Santiago de Chile, 26-27 January 2013). Welcoming the contribution made by the Chilean president to the EUFOR Althea operation in Bosnia Herzegovina, the president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy said that he hoped to expand cooperation with Chile within the framework of international peacekeeping missions. (MB/transl.fl)