Simon Coveney
Question:82 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's policy priorities in relation to Central and South America. [21530/02]
Written Answers. - Policy on Latin America.
As the political and economic importance of the Latin American region continues to grow, the focus of our policy towards Central and South America is to build closer bilateral relations with the countries of the region and, together with our partners in the European Union, to forge a closer bi-regional relationship with Latin America as a whole.
The bi-regional relationship between the European Union and Latin America was given a further impetus by the second Summit of Heads of State and Government of the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean, which took place in Madrid on 17 May last. This summit built on the success of the inaugural EU-Latin America-Caribbean Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1999. In Madrid, both sides re-affirmed their commitment to consolidate the strategic partnership between the two regions, based on respect for human rights and international law, the promotion of democracy and co-operation for economic and social development. Ireland will jointly chair the third EU-Latin America-Caribbean Summit, which is expected to take place in Mexico in May 2004, during the Irish Presidency of the EU. With these important commitments in mind, I intend to visit to the region in advance of the Presidency.
Ireland has supported the negotiation of new EU association and partnership agreements with individual countries and regional blocs in Latin America. A global agreement on economic partnership, political co-operation and co-ordination between the EU and Mexico came into effect on 1 July 2000. Ireland is a strong supporter of the global agreement, which provides a framework for the development of our bilateral political and economic relations. The fact that President Fox of Mexico is in Ireland today, making the first ever state visit by a Mexican President to this country, is evidence of our increasingly close relationship with that important country. Earlier today we had an opportunity to review our bilat eral relations and Mexico's developing relations with the EU.
Following more than two years of negotiations, a comprehensive association agreement between the EU and Chile is to be signed on 19 November next in Brussels. The agreement will then be subject to approval by all member states in accordance with their legal or constitutional requirements. The agreement provides for the establishment of a political and economic association between the EU and each of its member states and Chile, based on reciprocity, shared interests and co-operation in the political, economic, scientific, technological, social and cultural fields. Ireland welcomes the increased opportunities for bilateral co-operation to be provided by the agreement, which will further strengthen our ties with Chile, already advanced significantly this year by their opening of a resident embassy in Dublin.
Negotiations are also proceeding for a new EU-Mercosur association agreement. Brazil is the largest of the Mercosur member states, which also includes Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. We will seek to build bilaterally on the Taoiseach's visit to Brazil last year when the new Government there takes office.
Agreement was reached at the Madrid EU-LAC Summit on new initiatives to negotiate political and co-operation agreements with the Andean community and also with the countries of Central America, as well as measures to strengthen trade, investment and economic relations. Ireland supports these measures.
As regards Ireland's economic links with Latin America, it is particularly gratifying that trade and investment in recent years have both between increasing substantially. Between 1995 and 2001 total trade with the region grew from €543 million to €1.84 billion and we look forward to a similar expansion in trade in the coming years. A number of Irish companies have made significant investments in Latin America including Mexico, Argentina and Brazil.
We are also developing our relations with Latin America through increased Ireland Aid funding to the region. We fund projects in the human rights and democratisation sphere in Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, Grenada, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. To date in 2002, Ireland Aid has delivered over €2.2 million in emergency and rehabilitation assistance to countries in Latin America, targeted mainly at housing rehabilitation in the wake of natural disasters and at strengthening local capacities for disaster preparedness. Ireland Aid also continues to support Irish NGOs in the region through the NGO co-financing scheme and NGO block grants. Funding under the NGO schemes has been provided in 2002 to the following Latin American countries: Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru.
The report of the Ireland Aid Review Committee, published by the Government in March 2002, explored Ireland Aid's involvement to date in Central America in particular. The report noted that Irish NGOs have been particularly active in the region and have developed a strong presence in a number of countries with pressing development needs. The review committee recommended a greater emphasis on longer-term development needs via an intensified involvement in Central America. Ireland Aid is currently examining opportunities for deeper engagement.
The Government is fully seized of the importance of this region of immense potential. Accordingly, Ireland's diplomatic representation in the area has been steadily strengthened over recent years. In addition to the long-standing embassy in Buenos Aires, which also holds accreditation to Bolivia, Chile and Uruguay, a resident embassy was established in Brasilia in November 2001, following the opening of an embassy in Mexico City in 1999, with secondary accreditation to Colombia, Cuba, El Salvador, Peru and Venezuela. In An Agreed Programme for Government we are committed to further expanding our resident diplomatic missions in Latin America according as resources permit. As mentioned already, we have also seen the establishment of new missions by Latin American countries in Dublin with the opening of the Chilean embassy earlier this year. Chile joins Cuba, which established a resident mission in 2001, and the longer-established missions of Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.