In the run-up to the EU-Latin America Summit, high-level representatives of development cooperation from seven countries of Central America are meeting representatives of the EU and international donors in Vienna tomorrow, 10 May. On the programme for the high-level forum are new approaches by the Central American countries to economic and social development in the region and the strengthening of development cooperation.
The international donor community and the EU as the biggest provider of development aid support these efforts. The discussions will primarily focus on measures to improve coordination of regional development plans and international development aid. The partner countries’ development strategies are to be improved and the donor countries’ aid and management procedures better coordinated and simplified.
Central America: Regional integration
The activities of the partner countries are coordinated by the Central American integration system, SICA. The member countries of SICA are Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panamá; the Dominican Republic is associated. The prime aim of the regional development strategy is to overcome the great social differences and to bring the development status of the various member countries up to the same level. Integration is to make Central America more competitive and thus better able to hold its own on the world market.
Optimum use of development aid resources
The enhanced partnership between Central America and the international donors will be based on a phased plan for more effective development cooperation submitted by SICA. The EU will have a double role in this process: as a strong partner within the international community and as a model for successful regional integration.
Austria, as the country hosting the forum during its EU Presidency, is particularly interested in more efficient cooperation with Central America. For many years now, Austrian Development Cooperation has been active in Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. It has invested around EUR 105 million in development projects there over the last few years. A new regional programme for Central America is currently being drafted to take account of the integration efforts in the region. Transnational programmes in the production sector are designed to increase the regional and international competitiveness of small businesses and agricultural producers in particular. Activities in the education and healthcare sector are to support the countries’ social integration and above all open up new opportunities for disadvantaged and marginalised parts of the population.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press Department
Tel.: ++43 (0) 50 1150-3262, 4549, 4550
Fax: ++43 (0) 50 1159-213
mailto:abti3@bmaa.gv.at
http://www.aussenministerium.at
The participants in the forum on harmonisation and alignment are available for interview on request. Please address requests for interviews to :
Sabine Krings, Information Office Austrian Development Cooperation,
Tel. 0699 103 66 336
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