Ierse vicepremier roept tijdens top tussen EU en Latijns-Amerika op tot solidariteit en zekerheid in Europa (en)

The Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore T.D., is addressing the EU-Latin America Business Forum in Santiago, Chile, on 25 January. He will address world leaders on the need for solidarity and certainty in Europe. The Forum takes place ahead of the EU-Latin America Heads of State and Government Summit on 26-27 January.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore will address world leaders on the need for solidarity and certainty in Europe. The Forum takes place ahead of the EU-Latin America Heads of State and Government Summit on 26-27 January. German Chancellor Angela Merkel i, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso i and President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy i, as well as the Presidents of Brazil and Mexico will also be in attendance at the event, which is the first Summit of regional leaders under Ireland’s EU Presidency. Over the course of the weekend the Tánaiste will hold bilateral meetings with the Prime Ministers of France, Finland and Belgium.

There have been important and positive changes in the Latin America and Caribbean region over recent years. With a GDP of five and a half trillion dollars and a population of 575 million consumers, the region is a key trading partner for Ireland and the EU.

Speaking ahead of the Summit the Tánaiste said:

“I will be outlining to European and South American leaders that now is the time for solidarity and certainty in Europe, as well as pressing the case for a speedy conclusion of Ireland’s bank debt issue.

I will also be addressing the summit on Ireland’s EU Presidency priorities of ‘Stability, Jobs and Growth’ and how we must respond to the problem of unemployment particularly among young people.”

The objective of the Summit is to reinvigorate Europe’s economic relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean. The Tánaiste aims to promote economic cooperation and trade to the benefit of both regions particularly during Ireland's EU Presidency.

The Tánaiste said:

“There have been important and positive changes in the Latin America and Caribbean region over recent years. With a GDP of five and a half trillion dollars and a population of 575 million consumers, the region is a key trading partner for Ireland and the EU."