Brussels, 05/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission "is in the process of examining" the economic plan presented Sunday evening by the Argentinean Government, declared Tuesday Gerassimos Thomas, spokesman for the Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, Pedro Solbes. The plan aimed at getting Argentina out of the crisis at first sight contains "encouraging elements", he added, citing the decision to release bank accounts, the unification of the exchange market and the announcement of a cautious monetary and tax policy. "What is important now is for the government to implement the announced programme in a robust manner and check the results of this policy, the solid nature of the banking system and the implementation of the social programme", Mr. Thomas stipulated. Gunnar Wiegand, spokesman for the Commissioner for external relations, Chris Patten, for his part stressed that the Commission should soon present a strategy paper for Argentina 2002/2006 "that should contain a large social chapter". The Commission, that has earmarked some 20 million euro for co-operation with Argentina, could set up co-operation in the monetary and financial field should Argentina so desire. Chris Patten's spokesman, moreover, recalled that the General Affairs Council undertook last week to continue negotiations over an association and free-trade agreement with Mercosur. Experts should meet at the end of the month to prepare the next session of negotiations, to be held in April, he added. He welcomed the declarations of the Argentinean Government confirming its commitment to the common market integration process in that part of Latin America.
The President of the European Council, José Aznar, for his part, assured the Argentinean President of his support, hoping that "the Argentinean economic recovery plan may rapidly culminate by the adoption of a series of concrete measures that will allow for the renewal of agreements with the International Monetary Fund".