Rõivas at the EU-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit: the changed security situation requires cooperation between regions

11.06.2015 | 11:55

News

Brussels, 10 June 2015 – Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas emphasised the importance of collaboration between regions in the changed security situation at the EU-CELAC Summit in Brussels today.

“The world’s security situation has not improved since the last EU-CELAC Summit in Chile in 2013. If we look, for example, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, the war in Syria and Iraq, and the migration crisis in the Mediterranean Sea, then it has clearly worsened,” Prime Minister Rõivas said to the heads of state and government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean in Brussels and added that when faced with common challenges, it is rational to cooperate with like-minded people.

“It is important for Estonia to have relations with distant countries, therefore, the Summit provides a good opportunity to develop relations with the countries that are too far away for everyday interaction,” the Prime Minister said. “Digital services is one way to reduce the geographical distance,” Rõivas said. “Estonia is ready to share its experience in the development of e-government, e-services, cyber security, and ICT-sector in order to bring regions closer to each other.

The Prime Minister emphasised that the most important step to be taken in developing and modernising the partnership is to create liberal trade relations. “Trade is the only sustainable way to growth, which is the cornerstone of development and increased prosperity.”

Prime Minister Rõivas also stressed that it is necessary to forcefully move forward with the global climate agreement. “Climate change is one of the biggest problems of our time, and a very clear danger to Latin America and the Caribbean region.” According to Rõivas, it is extremely important to reach an ambitious agreement in Paris, which leads us to the desired result.

The Prime Minister also met with Vice President of Uruguay Raúl Sendic and President of Bolivia Evo Morales before the EU-CELAC Summit. The meetings focused on bilateral relations and the development of cooperation in the ICT sector – both Bolivia and Uruguay are interested in sharing experiences and knowledge of e-services and e-government.

The EU-CELAC Summit brings together the European and Latin American and Caribbean leaders in order to strengthen relations between the two regions. These summits serve as the main forum for the dialogue and cooperation between Europe and Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The theme of this Summit is the following: “Shaping our common future: working for prosperous, cohesive and sustainable societies for our citizens”.


Photos from Brussels: https://valitsus.ee/et/galeriid/eli-celaci-tippkohtumine-brusselis-10062015

Ave Tampere

Information Officer to the Government