|
Raad van de Europese Unie
| | | |
|COUNCIL OF | |EN |
|THE EUROPEAN UNION | | |
|Lima, 16 May 2008 |
|9534/08 (Presse 128) |
|PRESS RELEASE |
|Subject: V LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN - EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT |
|V LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN - EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT |
|Lima, Peru, 16 May 2008 |
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|LIMA DECLARATION |
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|"ADDRESSING OUR PEOPLES' PRIORITIES TOGETHER" |
We, the Heads of State and Government of Latin America and the Caribbean
and the European Union, have met in Lima to give new momentum to the
process of building up our bi-regional strategic partnership that we
initiated in Rio de Janeiro and continued with strong political commitment
and ambitious horizons in Madrid, Guadalajara and Vienna. After almost a
decade since our first meeting,
We reaffirm our commitment to the principles and values that support our bi-
regional relationship, as well as to the shared objectives, commitments and
joint positions adopted from Rio de Janeiro to Vienna.
We will actively pursue the negotiations of Association Agreements as
common strategic objectives of very high political priority. We
congratulate the successful implementation of the Association Agreements
between Mexico and Chile and the EU. The European Union and the Caribbean
Forum (CARIFORUM) as part of the African, Caribbean and Pacific groups of
states (ACP), welcome the successful conclusion of the negotiations for an
Economic Partnership Agreement.
We note with satisfaction the start in 2007 of the negotiations
between the EU and Central America and the Andean Community in view
of ambitious and comprehensive bi-regional Association Agreements,
which take into account asymmetries between and within the regions.
We note the progress made after the first three rounds of talks and
reconfirm our joint objectives of making substantial progress in the
negotiations in order to allow their conclusion during 2009.
We welcome the ongoing efforts to reach an agreement between the
European Union and Central America. In this perspective, we recall
the importance of regional integration as recognised in the Vienna
Summit, and we acknowledge with satisfaction the positive results
achieved so far. We welcome Panama's decision to formally join the
process of regional economic integration and look forward as a first
step to the early ratification of the Guatemala Protocol.
Equally, we welcome the determination of the Andean Community and the
European Union to make all efforts to conclude an Association
Agreement, which contributes to the further development of the Andean
integration process. We agree that particular attention will be given
to the specific development needs of the Member Countries of the
Andean Community, taking into account the asymmetries between and
within the regions and the need for flexibility, as appropriate, from
the part of the EU.
We stress the importance of an ambitious and balanced Mercosur-EU
Association Agreement and reiterate our commitment to bring the
negotiations to a successful conclusion as soon as the conditions
allow, building upon the existing work already achieved.
We have a clear vision of the potential of our bi-regional strategic
partnership which we are determined to pursue. To this end we will:
Foster the welfare of our peoples in order to achieve more inclusive and
cohesive societies, where respect for the rule of law and the values and
principles of democracy and human rights prevail within a framework of
solidarity and equality. We will work for equal opportunities and greater
sense of civic belonging and individual and collective participation in the
benefits of progress, both essential components of the harmonious
development of our peoples.
Deepen regional integration and other forms of association, as well as bi-
regional processes of political dialogue, cooperation and trade, taking
into account the asymmetries among countries and between our two regions,
in order to facilitate the joint development of our capabilities and
potential.
Strengthen the multilateral system making it more effective and reinforcing
its democratic nature, with the UN at its centre, through greater LAC-EU
coordination and cooperation, particularly in matters on which we have
undertaken specific initiatives, as well as on global issues of common
interest.
We reaffirm our commitment to the purposes and principles enshrined in the
Charter of the United Nations, we reaffirm our decision to support all
efforts to uphold sovereign equality of all States, to respect their
territorial integrity and political independence, to refrain in our
international relations from the threat or use of force in any manner
inconsistent with the purposes and principles of the United Nations, to
uphold resolution of disputes by peaceful means and in conformity with the
principles of justice and international law.
We firmly reject all coercive measures of unilateral character with
extra-territorial effect that are contrary to international law and
the commonly accepted rules of free trade. We agree that this type of
practice poses a serious threat to multilateralism. In this context,
and with reference to UNGA resolution A/RES/62/3, we reaffirm our
well-known positions on the application of the extra-territorial
provisions of the Helms-Burton Act.
We reaffirm our commitment to the timely and successful conclusion of the
WTO Doha Development Round and reiterate our willingness to reach an
ambitious, comprehensive and balanced outcome. In this respect, we look
forward to an upcoming WTO Ministerial meeting as a key opportunity to move
rapidly towards the conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda.
We will cooperate, in the framework of international law, on matters of
security (inter alia, illicit drugs and weapons trafficking, organized
crime and terrorism, including hostage taking), acknowledging the need to
address their impact on democratic societies and their development.
We will further our cooperation, in accordance with the principle of shared
responsibility, in confronting the world drug problem. The LAC-EU
Coordination and Cooperation Mechanism on Drugs should be strengthened as a
framework for a more efficient bi-regional dialogue.
Deeply concerned by the impact of increased food prices, we reiterate the
commitment of our countries to policies for the eradication of hunger and
the fight against poverty. We agree that immediate measures are needed to
assist the most vulnerable countries and populations affected by high food
prices. We are also convinced that, in the medium to longer term, a lasting
answer to the current crisis requires coordinated actions from the
international community, with a view to strengthening agricultural
capacities and rural development, in order to meet a growing demand.
In this context, we take note of the announcement by the UNSG on the
preparation of an Action Plan, and we will work towards reaching
concrete results at the High Level Conference on World Food Security
to be held in Rome from June 3rd to 5th, 2008. We further support the
development of the "Latin America and the Caribbean without hunger"
FAO initiative and we look forward to the results of the Special
Session of the Human Rights Council on the enjoyment of the right to
food.
We welcome the efforts by the Haitian Government and people to revitalise
the State institutions and combat poverty, inequality and social
injustices. In this context we express our support to MINUSTAH and the
Group of Friends of Haiti. We acknowledge the need for urgent and effective
continued action by the international community on behalf of rehabilitation
and development in Haiti.
We reaffirm our support for Haiti in its efforts to address emergency
and long term needs in food security. In this respect, we welcome the
organization of a conference in this matter presided by France and
Argentina as EU-LAC co-presidencies in Spain in July 2008 which will
aim at drawing up a program of food security and rural development in
alignment with Haiti´s own plan and coherent with the ongoing efforts
of the international community.
Overcoming poverty, inequality and exclusion is crucial for the attainment
of social cohesion, for sustainable development and for the effectiveness
of our bi-regional partnership. Environmental degradation and climate
change seriously affect our economic growth, hitting the poor hardest and
seriously threatening the prospects for the overall future of our peoples.
We recognize that actions to address these challenges are
interrelated and should benefit, when appropriate, from synergies so
as to promote sustainable development. In this endeavour we
acknowledge the role of financial development institutions and the
international donor community, in actively supporting sustainable
social development in our societies.
We have decided to concentrate our discussions at this V Summit on
promoting actions at the national, regional and international level,
to address two key interrelated challenges: poverty, inequality and
the need for more inclusive societies; and sustainable development,
the environment, climate change and energy. We need to implement
ambitious and timely policies to tackle these challenges. As a result
of our debates, we adopt the following
LIMA AGENDA
I. ERADICATION OF POVERTY, INEQUALITY AND EXCLUSION
We confirm that the fight against poverty, inequality and exclusion in
order to reach or increase social cohesion is a key policy priority of the
strategic partnership between our regions. They remain an important focus
for our dialogue and cooperation at national, sub regional and regional
level. We reiterate the primary responsibility of our governments,
cooperating with all relevant actors, among them civil society, to
implement policies towards this objective.
We recognise the progress made towards the fulfilment of the Millennium
Development Goals, attach great importance to the UNSG's call to action on
the MDGs, and renew our commitment to meeting them before 2015, as well as
our commitment to the Monterrey Consensus, in particular with regard to the
mobilisation of additional domestic and international resources for Aid and
Development, including for middle income countries. We call for further
innovative financial mechanisms to contribute to the fulfilment of these
objectives, thereby encouraging more inclusive societies.
Nevertheless we note with concern that, despite progress achieved, poverty,
inequality and exclusion still hinder various sectors of the population
from gaining equal access to opportunities to enjoy a dignified and
productive life, hinder the well-being of the individual, and encourage the
displacement of people. Addressing in an effective way the eradication of
poverty, inequality and exclusion with a view to promoting social cohesion
is a moral, political and economic imperative.
Within the framework of universal human rights, including civil, cultural,
economic, political and social rights and fundamental freedoms for all
without discrimination, and through the cooperative nature of our bi-
regional partnership, we commit ourselves to significantly improving the
quality of life of all our peoples. We aim to achieve:
Equitable and inclusive levels of social development through the
formulation and implementation of more effective social policies.
Sustained growth rates which will foster, inter alia, the creation of
decent, dignified and productive work, thereby optimising tax collection so
as to improve social public expenditure and its redistributive impact.
Full sense of belonging and participation of our peoples at all levels in
the fight against poverty, inequality and exclusion, strengthening the
confidence of citizens in the effectiveness of democratic institutions and
in social development policies.
To achieve the above mentioned objectives, and in addition to existing bi-
regional programmes, we will foster the identification of further means of
bi-regional cooperation in order to promote:
The formulation and implementation of effective social policies which
will:
Foster a coherent use of both public and private resources, together with
bi-regional cooperation and other international financing mechanisms, to
generate, through good and accountable governance, and adequate fiscal
policies, social programmes conducive to the achievement of the Millenium
Development Goals by 2015 and of the additional targets taken on by LAC
countries by the year 2020:
In the framework of joint and sustained efforts to eliminate hunger in our
countries, and giving attention to the right to food and guaranteeing the
food security of their populations, eradicate under-nourishment and prevent
malnutrition of children, especially below the age of three.
Universalize care for pregnant mothers and new-born children, and
progressive access to health care services.
Progressively eradicate illiteracy.
Universalize preschool education, improve the quality of basic education
and extend the coverage and quality of secondary and higher education.
Promote professional and vocational education.
Universalize access to drinking water and sanitation.
Increase employment rates and establish labour training programmes.
Improve housing conditions for the most vulnerable population groups.
Allocate the necessary resources to strengthen or, when necessary, promote
the reform of social protection systems, thus reinforcing solidarity, in
order to significantly increase the rate of coverage, universalizing the
system and offering specific assistance to the most vulnerable populations.
Encourage the participation of competent authorities and of all relevant
actors, among them civil society, in LAC-EU networks for the transfer of
knowledge and information exchange on social policies, and promote
experience-sharing, including successful experiences and pilot projects,
and the diffusion of best practices. To this end we will work closely with
EUROsociAL.
Building upon our existing cooperation, provide methodologies and
indicators to formulate, evaluate and follow up on social and employment
policies, including professional training.
Take into consideration specific requirements of target groups by further
promoting gender equality and the rights of persons with disabilities, of
children, of indigenous peoples or other social groups that require special
attention, as well as existing asymmetries in economic development between
countries and other specific adverse conditions or characteristics,
including landlocked developing countries.
Take into account the valuable contribution in both regions by the
corresponding agencies of the United Nations System to the objectives of
this Agenda, as well as the role of voluntary humanitarian organisations.
An economic growth with distributive impact which will:
Building upon levels achieved and considering the specific needs of each
country, seek stable and sustained growth through trade and economic,
investment and labour policies that explicitly take into account the
objectives of equality and inclusion. We reiterate that social policies and
social protection regimes should be underpinned by sound and fair public
policies, in particular fiscal policies, allowing a better redistribution
of wealth and insuring adequate levels of social expenditure. In order for
this to be effective we underline the need to:
Foster growth:
Preserve and promote sound macroeconomic policies and a secure investment
climate, within an international framework that would enable our countries
to develop their national capacities in the production of goods and
services of increasingly higher added value, as well as technology transfer
and investment.
Foster policies that favour formal economies and labour markets, in order
to further advance in the elimination of the principal causes of the
informal economy.
Enhance cooperation:
Strengthen national initiatives and international cooperation, including
budgetary support, when appropriate, in order to generate more resources to
implement viable social policies and public investment with a
redistributive impact.
Adopt, inter alia, measures like debt swap for social investment (inter
alia, in health, access to drinking water, education and housing), the
establishment of private-public partnerships, access to new sources of
financing, the establishment of funds for reconversion and social
solidarity, and counter-cyclic funds to finance social policies.
Complement the capacities of low and middle income countries by agile,
direct and timely cooperation and funds for economic development to
consolidate their macroeconomic achievements, supporting with adequate
resources the increase in education, health and housing investment, while
at the same time reducing the administrative costs of this cooperation.
Use the new external mandate of the European Investment Bank as an
opportunity for increase investment for the maximum benefit of the LAC
region.
Promote the consolidation of trade integration between our two regions,
support the ongoing regional integration processes and provide better
opportunities for greater and more effective access to their respective
markets, through WTO-consistent arrangements, eliminating unjustified
obstacles to trade and reducing distorting factors, while ensuring
appropriate special and differential treatment for developing countries and
taking into account the particular situation of small and vulnerable
economies.
We agree that trade is an engine for growth, sustainable development
and poverty reduction and that trade policies and development
strategies have to be formulated with a view to minimizing the
negative social impact of globalization and maximizing its positive
impact, while ensuring that all groups of the population, and in
particular the poorest, benefit from it.
Foster the development of productive assets and the improvement of
productivity, competitiveness and knowledge sharing, particularly in
poverty affected rural and urban areas and in highly labour-intensive
sectors. Incentives to promote small and medium enterprises (SMEs), seeking
their linkage with national, regional and bi-regional supply chains, should
be used. We propose to consider initiatives to promote the monitoring of,
and information sharing on, the performance of small and medium
enterprises, to better target cooperation towards their development and to
enhance the existing body of knowledge and information that will allow the
improvement of related national public policies.
Develop more effective labour and employment policies, through social
dialogue and the cooperation of governments, employers and workers and the
implementation of corporate social responsibility and respect for workers
rights, including collective bargaining, with a view to the generation of
decent and productive work for everyone. These policies should be oriented
particularly to young people, and widen the coverage of social protection
mechanisms. Therefore, we will support programmes to:
Facilitate quality employment for young people and reduce substantially the
proportion of young people who are out of the educational system or the
labour market.
Increase training and occupational education, placing special emphasis on
the development of cross-sectoral skills and lifelong learning that
contribute to adaptation to labour market changes.
Incorporate workers from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and self-
employed workers into social protection systems.
Develop markets for the production of consumer goods by vulnerable sectors,
such as rural settlers, native communities and indigenous peoples, to
substantially improve their working conditions and increase productivity
and income.
Promote the benefits of national labour markets that provide adaptability
and social security, occupational training and lifelong learning.
Promote the use of information and communications technology in order to
facilitate new employment opportunities, better education and access to
health services. In this context, we shall develop the communication
infrastructure to reduce the digital divide, under programmes such as @lis,
and widen the interconnectivity between CLARA, GEANT and CKLN networks.
Social participation and sense of belonging that:
Acknowledge, with full respect for diversity, that it is essential to widen
citizens' participation in the formulation and implementation of social
policies and programmes in order to foster social inclusion and strengthen
the confidence of citizens in democratic institutions, thus contributing to
good governance. We will promote:
The strengthening of national dialogue mechanisms to define the priorities
of social and employment policies.
The strengthening of institutional mechanisms to guarantee due respect for
social rights.
The economic, political and social empowerment of women.
Greater transparency and accountability of public institutions at all
levels to citizens and effective oversight institutions.
Cooperation among local authorities of the two regions in the field of
social inclusion through support-networks and capacity building; we welcome
the organization of the bi-regional fora of local governments on a bi-
annual basis.
The strengthening of training programmes for political and social actors.
Recall the solid, historic and cultural ties that have always existed
between the Latin American and Caribbean countries and the nations of the
European Union, based on the positive impact of migration flows in both
directions. We acknowledge that poverty is one of the root causes of
migration. We consider it fundamental to ensure effective enjoyment and
protection of human rights for all migrants. Based on the principle of
shared responsibility, we will develop a comprehensive approach on
international migration, including the orderly management of migratory
flows, focusing on the mutual benefits for countries of origin and
destination, and fostering the recognition and public awareness of the
important economic, social, and cultural contribution of migrants to the
host societies. We stress the importance of fighting racism,
discrimination, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance.
We call our regions to further develop a structured and comprehensive
dialogue on migration, in order to identify our common challenges and
areas for mutual cooperation. This dialogue will benefit from the EU-
LAC Experts' activities on migration and will provide them with
further guidance. This framework should allow for the exchange of
views and the intensification of our efforts towards increasing
mutual information on migration policy developments and best
practices in both regions to better understand the realities of
migration. It will also address the issues of regular and irregular
migration, as well as the link between migration and development, in
accordance with the legal framework of the countries.
We shall intensify our cooperation in preventing and fighting the
smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings, in assisting
the victims, and promoting voluntary, dignified and sustainable
return programmes while facilitating the exchange of information that
contributes to their better conception and execution.
Implementation of the Lima Agenda on eradication of poverty,
inequality and exclusion
Existing LAC-EU sectoral policy dialogues shall be continued and, where
necessary, new dialogues shall be established so as to contribute to the
achievement of this Agenda, in collaboration with pertinent international
organisations and other social actors. Within this framework, the Forum on
Social Cohesion has confirmed the need to further enhance the EU-LAC
partnership in promoting analyses and sharing experiences in areas of
common interest, and constitutes a valuable setting to complement our
deliberations from an integral perspective.
Before our next Summit, these policy dialogues will be convened and a
report will be prepared on their results and on the advancement of
the Lima Agenda.
While recognising that a significant part of the present European
cooperation towards the LAC region is focused on fighting poverty,
inequality and in promoting inclusion, we will secure adequate funding to
support the implementation of the objectives that emanate from our Summits.
II. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: ENVIRONMENT; CLIMATE CHANGE; ENERGY
We reiterate the importance of promoting sustainable development,
integrating economic and social development with the protection of the
environment, in the framework of democracy and the rule of law. Moreover,
the eradication of poverty, changing unsustainable patterns of production
and consumption, and the protection and management of natural resources,
including water resources, as a basis of economic and social development,
are central objectives and essential requirements for sustainable
development.
We are convinced that the achievement of sustainable development, based on
strengthened international cooperation, is a condition for poverty
alleviation. In this context, mitigation of climate change and the
adaptation to its effects, and the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity, natural resources and energy, are fundamental for a secure
future for our peoples.
In this endeavour, we reaffirm the principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.
With a view to promoting sustainable development, we call for more
efficient environmental governance in the United Nations System including a
more integrated structure that builds on existing institutions and
internationally agreed instruments, as well as the treaty bodies and the
specialized agencies. We undertake to engage fully in the ongoing process
on International Environment Governance improvement in the UN General
Assembly. We support initiatives to build consensus on reforms.
We reaffirm our commitment to the Rio 92 principles and to the full
implementation of Agenda 21, along with the Johannesburg Implementation
Plan, as well as the international environmental agreements, in particular
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto
Protocol, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on
Desertification. We also reiterate our commitment to the effective
application of the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management
and the multilateral environmental agreements relevant to this issue. We
believe that strong links and synergies exist between biodiversity and
climate change mitigation as well as adaptation.
We reaffirm the importance of our efforts to enhance the mutual
supportiveness between trade and environment inter alia through enhancing
market access for environmental goods, services and technology, taking into
account the impacts of trade on the sustainable use of natural resources,
while at the same time ensuring that unnecessary barriers to trade between
the two regions are avoided.
We encourage the participation of competent authorities and of all
pertinent actors, among them civil society, in bi-regional, regional and
sub-regional networks for the management and transfer of knowledge, and the
exchange of experiences in the implementation of environmental policies,
sustainable development and best practices.
We are committed to foster bi-regional cooperation with a comprehensive
vision of the environment, particularly focused on climate change,
desertification, energy, water, biodiversity, forests, fisheries and the
handling of chemical products. We are also committed to the establishment
and implementation of economic policies that take into account the need to
protect the environment and to strengthen social inclusion.
We will encourage more sustainable patterns of consumption and production,
allowing for the sustainable use of natural resources, inter alia by means
of training, scientific and technological cooperation and promotion of
investment and financial flows, to make the protection of the environment a
reality in both regions. In this endeavour we will take into account the
social, economic, cultural and environmental particularities of each
country.
In order to achieve these objectives, we are committed to advance
the:
Promotion of Bi-Regional Cooperation on Climate Change
We are determined to reach a conclusion on a comprehensive and global
agreed outcome under the Bali Action Plan no later than 2009, to enable the
full, effective and sustained implementation of the UNFCCC through long-
term cooperation action now, up to and beyond 2012. We are equally
determined to conclude, in the same timeframe, an ambitious and global
agreement for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol post 2012.
In this regard, we will consolidate the LAC-EU dialogue on climate change
issues, building on the bi-regional discussions held in Bali, with a view
to deepening bi-regional coordination, as well as collective actions of
cooperation, leading-up to COP 15 in Copenhagen.
In this context, we will seek to facilitate joint initiatives in the
area of climate change mitigation and adaptation to its adverse
effects, including the strengthening of carbon market mechanisms. We
will further aim at supporting the implementation of the Convention
on Climate Change in our regions, including through appropriate
mitigation actions in the context of sustainable development,
supported and enabled by technology, financing and capacity-building,
in a measurable, reportable and verifiable manner.
We are convinced that the Special Climate Change Fund and the Least
Developed Countries Fund under the UNFCCC, as well as the Kyoto Protocol
Adaptation Fund and the EU Global Climate Change Alliance, can be
instrumental in helping developing countries, particularly Least Developed
Countries (LDC) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), to increase
their capacity to adapt to climate change and pursue sustainable
development strategies in support of the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals.
We will work together to:
Promote initiatives in our regions to prevent, reduce and/or counterbalance
greenhouse gas emissions, including through financial mechanisms of, inter
alia, multilateral institutions.
Exchange experiences and deepen dialogue on sustainable development
policies that take into account the need for economic growth, environmental
protection and the strengthening of social inclusion, paving the way for
low carbon economic growth.
Strengthen institutional capacities and networks to create synergies among
regional and national existing initiatives in the field of climate change.
Pursue efforts to enhance the Clean Development Mechanism and increase
participation in flexible market mechanisms by both regions, according to
the needs of each country.
Foster policies and programmes in collaboration with the private sector and
other relevant actors, to encourage environmental corporate responsibility,
along with the development and transfer of technologies for the mitigation
of, and adaptation to, climate change, and the sustainable use of our
existing natural resources and diversity.
We will strive to strengthen the global climate change regime, under the
UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, to make it more coherent and consistent,
embracing appropriate mechanisms and institutions according to their
comparative strengths, ensuring scaled-up finance and investment flows for
both mitigation and adaptation, in an effective and fair way.
Promote investments in the field of environmentally friendly and climate
resilient production, and intensify cooperation and joint research efforts
in eco-technologies between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean,
particularly in efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Raise awareness of the causes and the potential impacts of climate change
on economic growth and the successful implementation of poverty eradication
strategies, and of the consequences of inaction, through carrying out
economic impact studies, where they are not already underway.
Enhance awareness, preparedness, prevention of and attention to natural
disasters through climate, geological, and hydrological research and
monitoring, exchange of experiences and the timely dissemination of best
practices, in particular in the areas of early warning, information
sharing, the elaboration of threat and risk mapping and the development of
local capabilities.
Support measures aimed at promoting and supporting the adaptation of Latin
American and Caribbean rural, coastal and mountain populations to the
impact of climate change on biodiversity, and its consequences for the
economy and food security for those populations, promoting the development
of pilot projects relevant to each of these issues as soon as possible. We
will promote the exchange of experiences to improve knowledge and
disseminate adaptation technology, aiming at increasing its efficacy.
Build on our existing bi-regional activity to strengthen the climate change
capacity for mitigation and adaptation to its effects in Latin American and
Caribbean countries, including through cooperation programmes on research
into the adverse impact of climate change, cooperation on the
identification of vulnerabilities in the region's countries, so as to
reduce them, mobilisation of financial resources, training and response
strategies assistance and the input from local experiences. Attention
should be given to changes in the patterns of precipitation, glacial
melting and its consequent effects for hydro resources, the increased
frequency and intensity of extreme climate events and the rising of sea
levels. All this, taking into account that global warming has a
disproportionately greater impact on the poorest populations.
Promotion of birregional energy cooperation
We are aware that the challenges of climate change and meeting energy needs
are closely linked to sustainable development. It is in our common interest
to substantially improve energy efficiency and reduce the carbon intensity
of our economies.
We recognize the principle of the sovereign right of states to manage and
regulate their natural resources.
We also acknowledge the importance of strengthening a regulatory framework
conducive to generating and attracting investment.
In this context, we undertake to develop bi-regional energy cooperation in
the following areas:
Diversification of energy sources; better access to the production and use
of clean and low carbon intensive energies; improvement of energy
efficiency processes; development of new technologies; production and use
of environmentally sustainable energy sources; and improvement of energy
services, inter alia, in the metropolitan public transport. We will also
promote the regional integration and interconnection networks as a means to
strengthen the security of supply, building on complementarities, and in a
spirit of solidarity.
In the area of non-renewable energy sources, we will also cooperate in
promoting the development of new technologies, as well as technological
cooperation, improving the access to energy services, particularly for the
poorer segments of the population.
We will work together to:
Raise public awareness of the environmental impact of unsustainable
patterns of energy consumption.
Promote better access to, and the increased use of, innovative sources of
renewable energy, and initiate by the next Summit joint research activities
in this field and in that of energy efficiency.
Exchange experiences on biofuel technology, norms and regulations.
Promote and strengthen initiatives aiming at increasing access to low
carbon, secure and affordable energy, as well as regional energy
integration, in order to improve the economic, social and environmental
conditions in LAC countries, raising awareness on initiatives such as the
Global Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fund (GEEREF) and other
regional initiatives.
Use existing mechanisms and encourage multilateral financial institutions,
including the GEF (Global Environment Fund), as well as private funding, to
support research, innovation and capacity building in both regions, thus
complementing public efforts. Further efforts should be made to capitalise
on related EU research projects on energy funded through the EU Research
Framework Programmes, and to promote the EU-LAC knowledge area in this
field.
Fostering environmental sustainability
We are mindful of the fact that alongside our efforts with regard to
climate change, it is also important to cooperate in addressing, at all
levels, the challenges of preservation and sustainable management of
biodiversity, forests, fisheries and water resources, the fight against
desertification and the adequate management of chemicals. Addressing these
challenges is an essential component of sustainable development. We will
work together towards:
Strengthening and full implementation of the Convention on Biological
Diversity, which is the key instrument for the conservation of biological
diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable
sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic
resources. We will strive for an ambitious outcome at the next Conference
of the Parties (COP9 Bonn, May 2008) through:
Working to achieve the 2010 biodiversity target.
Collaborating to complete before 2010 the negotiations on an international
regime on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of
the benefits arising out of the use of those resources.
Ensuring progress towards the objective of establishing and maintaining by
2010 for terrestrial and by 2012 for marine areas comprehensive,
effectively managed, and ecologically representative national and regional
systems of protected areas, according to international law.
Strengthening the co-benefits and synergies between biodiversity and
climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
Enhancing the scientific underpinning of biodiversity policy.
Adopting a resource mobilisation strategy at COP9.
Stronger efforts for sustainable forestry management and the adoption of
policies and incentives to reduce deforestation and forest degradation and
the resultant loss of biodiversity, including the mobilisation of financial
resources, favouring a progressive approach through the implementation of
pilot projects and valuation frameworks for the environmental services and
products that forests provide; taking into account the circumstances of
developing countries.
In this context, we underline the importance of strengthening
national capacities to improve forest law enforcement and of
promoting good governance at all levels in order to support
sustainable forest management, and to combat and eradicate illegal
practices, in accordance with national legislation, in forest and
other related sectors, as well as illicit international trafficking
in forest products, including timber, wildlife and other forest
biological resources.
Promoting a bi-regional policy dialogue on water and cooperating for the
rational and sustainable use of water, through the transfer of technology
and capacity building for an efficient management of hydrological
resources, including the sustainability of river basins, along with other
measures ensuring universal access to clean water and basic sanitary
conditions, taking into account our commitments to the MDGs, Principle 2 of
the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development and the preservation of
wetlands and their eco-systems. In this sense we recognize the importance
that the LAC component of the EU Water Initiative leads to positive
results.
We should intensify the dialogue envisaged under the Joint
Declaration on the Implementation of the LA-EU Strategic Partnership
for Water Resources and Sanitation signed during the 4th World Water
Forum.
The effective application of the Strategic Approach to International
Chemicals Management and the multilateral environment instruments relevant
to the issue.
Implementation of the Lima Agenda for Sustainable Development:
Environment; Climate Change; Energy
We will strive to pursue the LAC-EU dialogue on environmental policy, in
order to provide adequate follow up to the actions laid out in this Agenda,
and to establish a timetable for its progressive fulfilment.
LAC-EU will convene the dialogues envisaged and will coordinate the
preparation of a progress report on their results, which will be
submitted to the next Summits.
Within our ongoing efforts to foster bi-regional environmental cooperation
with a special focus on climate change, without prejudice to respective
national policies, a joint EU-LA Environment programme called "EUrocLIMA"
will be launched to the benefit of Latin American countries with the main
objectives of knowledge sharing, fostering structured and regular dialogue
at all levels and ensuring synergies and coordination of current and future
actions in this field.
We welcome the studies underway in numerous countries of Latin
America and the Caribbean into the economic impact of climate change,
and the plans being drawn up by other countries of the region to
carry out such studies. As part of the EUrocLima initiative, we will
consider completed studies and provide support, upon request, to
countries of the region that have not yet done so to undertake new
studies in this area.
At the same time, we are committed:
to start the implementation of the recently launched EU Global Climate
Change Alliance targeting Least Developed Countries and Small Islands
Developing States, to the benefit of CARIFORUM countries.
to ensure that all these initiatives are mutually supportive and that they
take into account the need for energy transition as well as the
complementarity of different energy sources.
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We have decided to consider the creation of an EU-LAC Foundation conceived
as a trigger for debate on common strategies and actions aimed at
strengthening our bi-regional partnership as well as enhancing its
visibility.
With this in view, an open bi-regional Working Group will be set up
to work on the Foundation´s possible terms of reference. A report
will be presented to the SOM for consideration at their first meeting
in 2009.
We welcome with particular interest the report of the co-presidencies on
the meetings and activities that took place between the Summits of Vienna
and Lima on issues that are part of the bi-regional Agenda and we thank the
governments and regional institutions for their initiatives to follow-up
our commitments.
We express our satisfaction for the rapid establishment of the Euro-Latin
American Parliamentary Assembly. We note the resolutions it has adopted and
invite institutions and integration mechanisms in Latin America and Europe
to collaborate closely with this Assembly.
We accept with pleasure the invitation of Spain to host the sixth LAC-EU
Summit in 2010.
We express our deep gratitude to the Government and the people of Peru for
their hospitality and support, which ensured the successful conclusion of
the Lima Summit.
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