High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell congratulated President Luis Abinader on the success of the 28th Ibero-American Summit during a visit he made to the Presidential Palace to meet with the Dominican President. Borrell is also vice president of the European Commission.
Borrell valued the celebration in the country of the 28th Ibero-American Summit. He said the Dominican leadership marks the role of the country as a bridge between Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe.
He also stated that the Dominican Republic has political stability and economic progress, which means the country is an anchor of cooperation with the European continent.
Borrell made the remarks during the visit to President Luis Abinader at the Presidential Palace after his participation in the 28th Ibero-American Summit that ended on 25 March 2023 in Santo Domingo. Foreign Minister Roberto Alvarez was present at the meeting.
Borrell also said he backs the Dominican Republic’s position on Haiti. “We know that they have a very complicated and difficult neighbor in permanent conflict and whatever initiative they take, we will support it; Haiti needs an international intervention to allow that people to get out of the dramatic situation in which they find themselves,” he said.
At the office of President Abinader, Borrell announced the European Union would add EUR13 million to back the transition of a green and more inclusive economy in the Dominican Republic. “I am pleased to announce that we are going to launch the new cooperation program with you, endowed with 13 million euros to promote a green economy for advances to climate transformations to pass all the requirements to increase agricultural exports from the point of view of pesticide control,” he said.
Borrell explained that the program is part of the Team Europe initiative in the Dominican Republic and that it will support the national framework for public finance management, as well as the competitiveness and sustainability of MSMEs, with particular attention to women and young people.
The European official invited President Abinader to the European Union and Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (EU-CELAC) Summit to be held in Brussels on 17-18 July 2023.
Borrell said that the EU-CELAC Summit will not occur without the presence of the Dominican President. “We are waiting for you; the Summit cannot be held without you,” he told President Abinader, as reported on the Dominican Presidency website.
“Our relationship with the European Union is very positive, and, being positive, I think that for both parties, we have to try to keep expanding. Thank you very much; we will be there in Brussels, together with other Latin American countries, to continue establishing this great alliance,” said President Abinader in response to the invitation.
President Abinader highlighted that Josep Borrell had an important participation with an encouraging speech at the 28th Ibero-American Summit. Abinader highlighted the significant role of Spain from the second half of the year when it assumes the presidency of the European Union and that the interest is that all Ibero-American countries can have greater relations in all aspects with the European Union.
The President thanked the high representative of the European Union for his participation in the 28th Summit and said during that meeting issues of great interest for the Dominican Republic and also of concern for the European Union were discussed, such as the case of the situation in Haiti.
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Presidency
28 March 2023