Brussels, 09/12/2005 (Agence Europe) - With a view to the next EU/Latin America/Caribbean summit to be held in Vienna during May 2006, the Commission presented a new strategy, on 9 December, to strengthen EU/Latin American cooperation and partnership. In a communication, the Commission spells out concrete recommendations to give fresh impetus to the existing partnership, in order to create new dialogue and opportunities contributing to peace, stability and development, while strengthening social cohesion, democracy and regional integration. The Commission thus proposes intensifying and targeting political dialogue on a limited number of issues of common interest likely to step up the influence of the two regions in the world, and mainly on sustainable development (biodiversity, climate change, fight against deforestation, etc.). Mutual understanding and cultural exchange could take on concrete substance thanks to exchange programmes at the level of higher education, the Commission also says, hoping to create a stable environment that is propitious to trade and investment by using the network of association and free trade agreements as a basis within the framework of the WTO and bi-regional agreements, mainly with Mexico and Chile. It supports the proposal made by the European Investment Bank to grant loans for infrastructure development through the Latin American Facility, and it suggests better targeting of development aid and organising a Social Cohesion Forum every two years. The Commission also undertakes to support countries of the region in their fight against drugs and corruption.