Minister Pusić to attend EU-CELAC Summit in Chile

The 7th EU-LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) and the first EU-CELAC summit (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, founded in 2010) is expected to be attended by leaders of 60 countries

 

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Vesna Pusić is to attend a summit of the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) in Santiago de Chile, 25-27 January 2013.

The 7th EU-LAC (Latin America and the Caribbean) and the first EU-CELAC summit (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, founded in 2010) is expected to be attended by leaders of 60 countries. The previous EU-LAC summit was held 2010 in Madrid. 

The summit is being held at a time of changes for both regions, as the CELAC countries are experiencing economic growth, while the EU is facing economic challenges, although it is still the most important trade bloc, the largest investor and recipient of foreign direct investments. 

The EU is a leading foreign investor in the CELAC countries, with a 43% share in total foreign direct investments, and Latin American companies have increased their investments in the EU. Trade between the two blocs has doubled in the last ten years. 

The European Parliament has ratified the trade agreements between the EU and the Pacific Alliance member countries, as well as the Association Agreement with the Central America, which was the first bi-regional agreement signed by the EU (2012). 

This summit represents a continuation of the dialogue on common international and multilateral values and standpoints, a step forward in the bi-regional process of Strategic Partnership and s promotion of investments based on corporate social responsibility and environmental quality. 

Croatia recognizes the growing role and importance of the CELAC countries on the global political and economic level, and in many of them Croatia has sizeable emigrant communities. Also, once it joins the EU, Croatia will become a party to all of the agreements that the EU has signed with the Latin American countries, thus strengthening its bilateral ties with them. Despite the fact that mostly trades with the European countries and that they are the largest foreign investors in Croatia, it is important for the Croatian economy that it moves into markets outside of Europe as well. 

On the fringes of the meeting Pusić will meet with representatives of the Croatian community in Chile, Chilean Foreign Minister Alfredo Moreno Charme, Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin Cuellar, Costa Rican Foreign Minister Jose Enrique Castillo Barrantes et al. Also on the agenda is the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Chile, to be attended by Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanović and Chilean President Sebastian Piñera.

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