Brussels, 31/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of a common resolution by four political groups (EPP-ED, PES, ELDR, UEN) on the results of the second EU/Latin American summit on 17 May in Madrid, the European Parliament agreed on Thursday with the objections set out in the "political declaration" and the determined will to give concrete substance to a preferential relationship (see EUROPE of 18 May, pages 4,9 and 10, and 22d May, pages 12 and 13). The EP calls on the Council and the Commission for the new objectives derived from the Madrid Summit to be allocated adequate financial means within the Community budget. It recognises that the progress made opens up to the Andean Community and Central American countries the prospect of concluding, by end 2004 at the latest, viable association agreements with the EU foreseeing the creation of free trade areas. The plenary calls on the Commission to ensure respect of these commitments within the time set.
The Spanish Secretary of State for Cooperation, Miguel Angel Cortes, presented the main results of the EU/Latin America Summit to the European Parliament on Wednesday. He insisted on the progress made in economic cooperation, the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking. He also welcomed the very high level of participation at the Summit.
Commissioner Antonio Vitorino felt that the objectives had been reached and that Madrid has "proved the bilateral strategic partnership established in Rio in 1995 is not just made up of empty words". "The two parties have renounced unilateralism in trade", he noted, also stressing the results obtained in relations between the EU and Chile, as well as Mercosur. The demands of the Andean Community have found an adequate response, he said, mainly evoking future negotiation on foreign direct investment, even if it remains linked to the results of post-Doha in 2004.
Speaking on behalf of the EPP-ED Group, Spanish national José Salafranca Sanchez-Neyra welcomed the progress made before stressing that Latin America "does not need charity but opportunities". On behalf of the PES Group, Raimon Obiols i Germa from Spain welcomed the political commitment taken in Madrid which offers true perspectives for development of the partnership. Swedish Liberal Cecilia Malmström mainly insisted on the support that should be given to the democrats of Cuba. The co-president of the Greens/EFA Group, Monica Frassoni, said for her part that the Summit was a "tree of never-ending discussions that is totally impermeable to civil society", with free trade as its only rhetoric. She regretted the final declaration's silence on Cuba and Venezuela. Pedro Marset Campos (Izquierda Unida) pointed out that the GUE/NGL Group does not share the positive judgement on the Summit. He mainly evoked the absence of concrete responses to problems of the Latin American and Caribbean countries.
"We would have liked to give the Summit a more concrete content", admitted Mr Cortes while reaffirming that the Summit has shown "real determination to achieve rapprochement and cooperation" and that it has been reflected in a positive light in the media.