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IV EU-LAC SUMMIT
(Vienna, Austria, 12 May 2006)
DECLARATION OF VIENNA
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STRENGTHENING THE BI-REGIONAL STRATEGIC ASSOCIATION
1. We, the Heads of State and Government of the European Union and of Latin America
and the Caribbean, meeting in Vienna on May 12th 2006, reiterate our commitment to
further promote and strengthen our bi-regional strategic partnership agreed at the
previous Summits held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1999, Madrid in May 2002 and
Guadalajara in May 2004.
2. We express our satisfaction with the positive results achieved at the IV EU-LAC
Summit, which will contribute to the strengthening of our comprehensive, firm and
mutually beneficial relationship. We will expand and deepen EU-LAC cooperation in
all areas in a spirit of mutual respect, equality and solidarity. Building on our special
historical and cultural links, we are determined to maximise the potential for joint
action between our regions.
3. We recall the Declarations of the previous Summits in Rio de Janeiro, Madrid and
Guadalajara and we remain committed to the pledges made therein. In particular, we
reaffirm our commitment to the shared fundamental principles and values that underlie
our bi-regional relationship and are enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
We strongly believe that democracy, the rule of law, the respect, promotion and
protection of human rights, poverty eradication, social and economic development and
respect for international law are essential for peace and security. We further reiterate
our shared commitment to a strong and effective multilateral system, to which end we
are committed to advancing the multilateral agenda as a cross-cutting issue and as a
priority for our bi-regional relations.
We will intensify our efforts to define common positions and joint actions between the
two regions within the various UN bodies and at major UN conferences.
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS
4. We reaffirm that democracy is a universal value