Brussels, 21/04/2008 (Agence Europe) - Meeting in Lima (Peru) on 16 April, the 4th EU/Latin America-Caribbean trade union summit called for “stronger economic, political and social dimensions in the current regional and sub-regional integration processes”. The trade union leaders also called on the heads of state and government (that are to gather in May in Lima, a trade union press release points out) to back measures aimed at correcting the regional imbalance between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean; and promote the full implementation of the three pillars - political, cooperation and social dimension - of the EU's association agreements with this region, with the addition of a fourth chapter on a labour dimension. The trade union summit also adopted a “declaration of solidarity” with workers facing severe attacks on their rights in countries such as Colombia and Guatemala.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and the Trade Union Confederation of the Americas (TUCA) have submitted the conclusions of the IV Trade Union Summit to the foreign affairs minister of Peru and have asked that heads of state and government receive a delegation from the trade union summit, a joint press release states. For further information see: http://www.ituc-csi.org (G.B.)