EURO-LATIN AMERICAN PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

Transcription

1 Asamblea Parlamentaria Euro-Latinoamericana Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly Assemblée Parlementaire Euro-Latino Américaine Assembleia Parlamentar Euro-Latino-Americana EURO-LATIN AMERICAN PARLIAMTARY ASSEMBLY Committee on Social Affairs, Human Exchanges, the Environment, Education and Culture MINUTES of the meeting of 22 November 2011, from to 19.00, and 23 November 2011, from 9.00 to Brussels 1 The meeting opened at on Tuesday, 22 November 2011, with Co-chair Edite Estrela (European Parliament) and Co-chair Carlos Baráibar (Parlatino) in the chair. 1. Adoption of draft agenda AP v01-00 The draft agenda was adopted in the form shown in these minutes. 2. If necessary, election of members to the Committee's Bureau Hon. Florisvaldo Fier (Dr Rosinha), candidate of the Mercosur Parliament, was elected first Co-chair of the Committee by acclamation. 3. Approval of minutes of the meeting of: 17 and 18 May 2011 (Montevideo, Uruguay) AP v01-00 The minutes of the meeting of 17 and 18 May 2011 were approved. 4. Co-chairs announcements Co-chair Edite Estrela stated that the purpose of the meeting was to present the new joint motion for a resolution on Prevention of natural disasters in Europe and Latin America, and hold an exchange of views on the topic. In addition, the two corapporteurs would present their respective working documents, and a first debate would be held on said documents. 5. Joint motion for a resolution: Prevention of natural disasters in Europe and in Latin America EP co-rapporteur: LAC co-rapporteur: Edite Estrela (S&D) Hector Heli Rojas (Parlandino) The EP co-rapporteur, Ms Edite Estrela, along with Ms Ximena Vidal (EU-Chile 1 In the presence of the European Commission, the European External Action Service and the Council of the European Union. PV\ doc AP v01-00 United in diversity

2 JPC), standing in for the Latin American co-rapporteur, Mr Hector Heli Rojas, presented their latest thoughts on the draft resolution. Speakers: Luisa del Rio (Parlandino), Francisco Xavier Salazar (EU-Mexico JPC), Julia Perie (Parlasur) Decision: Co-chair Edite Estrela informed the Members that the deadline for tabling amendments to the draft joint resolution would be 17 February The amendments would be considered and voted on at the next meeting of the Committee prior to the plenary session planned for May The plenary session would consider and vote on the final draft resolution. 6. Topic for debate: Formal and informal education and continuous education EP co-rapporteur: LAC co-rapporteur: Santiago Fisas Ayxela (PPE) Gloria Marina Barillas de Duarte (Parlatino, Guatemala) Both co-rapporteurs presented their respective working documents. Speakers: José Maria Zufiaur (EESC), Inés Ayala (EP), Francisco Xavier Salazar (EU-Mexico JPC), Julia Perie (Parlasur), Luisa del Rio (Parlandino), Dr Rosinha (Mercosur Parliament), Walesca Saab (Parlandino), Luis Yañez (EP), Ximena Vidal (EU-Chile JPC), Edite Estrela (EP) Decision: Co-chair Edite Estrela recalled that a new debate on the working document would take place at the next meeting of the Social Committee in May Urgent topic: Exchange of views with a representative of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on social inclusion and development technologies (@lis Programme) Mr Mario Castillo, CELAC representative, presented information and communication technologies (ICT) as strategic tools for development, since they stimulated innovation, economic growth and social inclusion and generated productivity gains that led to growth, reduced transaction costs and improvements in the competitiveness of production structures. In addition, ICT had a positive impact on the well-being of the population, since it facilitated communication and provided a means of access to information and to efficient, easily accessible online social services. He was of the opinion, in particular, that broadband was the most important means of access. With regard to the use of ICT, he noted that the penetration rate of broadband internet was 7 % in landline form and 8 % in mobile form, in comparison to 23 % and 41 % for European countries. Also, in Europe, the average monthly subscription fee for 1 Mbps broadband represented 0.5 % of per capita monthly income, while in the countries of the region this fee represented 15 %. In addition, in Latin America, about 70 % of formal micro-enterprises did not have access to basic technology such as the Internet, and only 7 % of all companies engaged in electronic commerce. In education, only 36 % of institutions had Internet access, and barely one third of teachers and students in these countries had been trained in the use of ICT. AP v /6 PV\ doc

3 In this context, he considered it essential to adopt measures aimed at closing these divides. Inter-regional cooperation, particularly with Europe, was an ideal tool for this purpose. In this context, he mentioned an excellent cooperation project involving Latin America and Europe the Inclusive political dialogue and exchange of experiences project intended to contribute to the development of a sustainable, competitive, innovative and inclusive information society and strengthen the political, technical and social ties between Europe and Latin America in the area of the information society. The project focused on three high-impact areas: broadband for growth and equality; ICT for development and social inclusion; and ICT for productive inclusion and territorial development. The notable achievements of this project included: a targeted strategy of cooperation for the information society in less developed countries through technical assistance, a regional strategy for the information society, and a regional broadband strategy that should contribute to the development of regional and international connectivity through support for specific initiatives to establish national traffic exchange points and the interconnection of said points at the regional and international level. The Regional Dialogue, in which nine Latin American countries were currently participating, was aimed at reducing prices for this service in the region in order to allow greater digital inclusion. 8. Exchange of views with Ms Isabel Recavarren, coordinator of the Euro-Latin American Women's Forum, on the progress of work in the Forum and outlook for the future Ms Recavarren stressed in her speech the need to involve women in trade, through micro-credit or other measures aimed at encouraging women s involvement in trade activities. This was precisely the topic of the seminar organised by the Euro-Latin American Women s Forum in May 2011 in Montevideo. Due to the fact that women were increasingly well educated, their opinions had weight and thus should be taken into consideration, in spite of cultural differences that may engender different focuses and approaches. Ms Recavarren proceeded to highlight the role of women in migration, since women represented a significant proportion of migrants and, at the same time, a vulnerable group. 9. Other business None. 10. Date and place of next meeting The next meeting of the Committee would take place in Santiago de Chile from 2 to 4 PV\ doc 3/6 AP v01-00

4 May AP v /6 PV\ doc

5 LISTA DE ASISTCIA / RECORD OF ATTDANCE / LISTE DE PRÉSCE / LISTA DE PRESÇAS LISTA DE ASISTCIA / RECORD OF ATTDANCE / LISTE DE PRÉSCE / LISTA DE PRESÇAS PARLATINO: Miembros EuroLat / EuroLat Members / Membres EuroLat / Membros EuroLat Timoteo Zambrano, Gloria Marina Barillas, Carlos Baraibar PARLANDINO: PARLAC: PARLASUR: CPM UE-MEXICO: CPM UE-CHILE: EUROPEAN PARLIAMT: Luisa del Rio, Gabriel Remiva, Walesca Saab Gloria Oqulí, Roberto Argueta, Radames Abreu Julia Perie, Bustavo Borsari, Mario Eduardo Esper Francisco Xavier Salazar Ximena Vidal Izaskun Bilbao, Sosa Wagner, Andrés Perelló, Edite Estrella, Richard Seeber, Luis Yánez Barnuevo, Peter Liese, Inés Ayala Sender Presente el / Present on / Présent le / Presente em: (1) (2) Por invitación de los Co-Presidentes / At the invitation of the Co-Chairs / Sur l'invitation des co-présidents / A convite dos Co-Presidentes Secretaría de los Parlamentos Latinoamericanos / Latin-American Parliaments Secretariat Parlatino Parlandino Parlacen Parlasur Congreso México Congreso Chile Victoria Valencia Silvia Solarzano Agostina Rodríguez Sáa Secretariado del Parlamento Europeo / European Parliament Secretariat EuroLat Co- Secretariat DG External Policies Assistant Radka Hejtmankova Arantza Uriarte Iraola PV\ doc 5/6 AP v01-00

6 Secretaría de los Grupos Políticos del PE / EP Political Groups Secretariat PPE S&D ALDE Verts/ALE ECR GUE/NGL EFD NI Miriam Orsagova Jean Fracois Vallin Itziar Munoa Otros participantes / Other participants European Parliament Diplomatic Corps Others Zufiaur (EESC) Casertano (EESC) Recavarren (Women s Forum) Castillo (ECLAC) AP v /6 PV\ doc