Press Release:EU-Latin America : Commission presents priorities for follow-up to Rio Summit

The Commission adopted on the 31 October 2000 a Communication which sets out the general principles and actions that it will take in implementing the priorities established during the first summit of Heads of State and Government of the countries of Latin America, the Caribbean and the EU held in Rio on 28 and 29 June 1999. The Communication highlights the priority that the Commission attaches to the region. It focusses on three short-term key priorities at regional level: promotion and protection of human rights, creation of an Alliance for the Information Society and setting up of a joint 'Social Initiative'. Activities in these areas will also form the core for Commission input into the EU-Latin America Summit in 2002 in Spain. Other Rio Summit priorities are being integrated into Commission strategies for individual countries and sub-regions. The Communication provides an overview on the actions planned with Mercosur-Chile, the Andean Community, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

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