EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit in Vienna

Government Communications Unit

Press release 149/2006
5.5.2006




The EU-Latin America/Caribbean Summit will take place in Vienna between 11 and 13 May. The summit will be held under the overall theme “Strengthening the bi-regional strategic association”. President of the Republic Tarja Halonen and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki will represent Finland at the summit. Minister Lehtomäki will also attend the meeting of EU-LAC Foreign Ministers that will be organised in connection with the summit.

The Vienna Summit is the fourth meeting of Heads of State and Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean. The summit agenda includes democracy and human rights, strengthening of multilateral cooperation, the fight against terrorism, drugs and organised crime plus issues relating to the environment and energy.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lehtomäki will also meet the Foreign Minister of Columbia, Carolina Barco, the Minister of Trade and Industry of Mexico, Sergio García de Alba, and the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, Norman Caldera. The ministers will discuss, for example, Finland’s forthcoming Presidency of the European Union.

Further information: Anu Vuori-Kiikeri, First Secretary, tel. +358 9 1605 6431, and Arto Haapea, Deputy Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358 9 1605 6183, Ministry for Foreign Affairs