Dear Chairman,
Dear M. Van Klaveren,
Dear students,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Thank you very much for your kind words and, first and foremost, for inviting me to join you this morning.
It is always a particular privilege for Europeans to come to Latin America, because the geographic distance that separates us is inversely related to our natural attachment and likeness.
What I would like to do this morning is speak about the role of Luxembourg and Europe in global politics, but also share my views on why the partnership Europe and Latin America is substantial.
Allow me first to give you a few elements of history to put Luxembourg’s position in Europe and in the world today into perspective.
With a total of 2586 square kilometres and 476.000 inhabitants, Luxembourg is not exactly a so called "big country", and has never been, although it was geographically bigger a few centuries ago. Our country suffered a lot in the two World Wars, especially in the second, when its neutrality was once more baffled by German troops, its territory invaded and the country annexed to Nazi Germany. The Government and the Grand-Ducal family went into exile in London, putting an end to the neutrality of the country to firmly take the side of the Allied powers.
After the War, the Luxembourg authorities were determined to engage the country in the emerging multilateral system and chose to be a founding member of all major international organisations that were created to mitigate the danger of another World War, like the United Nations, NATO, or the Council of Europe. Luxembourg had at that point already committed in a close cooperation with Belgium and the Netherlands, in the Benelux community.
As Luxembourg’s leaders were convinced that the lasting reconciliation of France and Germany was a precondition for peace and security on the European continent, it was only natural that Luxembourg would also become one of the driving forces behind integration in Europe.
Since the creation on the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, of which Luxembourg was one of the six founding members, all successive governments have been convinced that what was good for an integrated and unified Europe could only be good for Luxembourg as well, and have therefore positioned Luxembourg at the forefront of the European integration movement. Very frequently, Luxembourg has been able to play the role of the mediator between bigger Member States, to help advance the European integration. Today, we are proud to be a founding member of that "Ever closer Union" that the founding fathers had dreamed about, a Union that developed from an economic Union into a political Union through small steps creating real solidarities among its Member States.
The European Union has indeed come a very long way since its creation: it started out as a peace project, aiming at bringing together the nations and the peoples of Europe. As a peace project, it has been largely successful. As an economic community, with a single market, it soon asserted its position on the international scene. And as the Union grew bigger and expanded its fields of competence and of responsibility, its relations with the rest of the world evolved accordingly. Nowadays, the Union wants to share its values with other parts of the world, and promote peace and security in regions where they are needed, drawing on its own experience of peace-building in Europe after the War.
Over the years, the range of activities covered by the European Union has increased in a spectacular way as Member States realized the benefits of joining efforts in a variety of fields. From coal and steel to agricultural policy at the start, to the customs union to the internal market, justice and home affairs, there is today almost no sector that is left out of the cooperation among the Member States of the European Union. For all Member States, small or large, European policies have become national policies, with direct implications on the lives of citizens and on our national laws. This is as true for Luxembourg as for any other Member State, or maybe even truer: being a small country very strongly engaged in the European integration process, Luxembourg might possibly be the most "European" Member State that you are going to come across.
The same goes for our foreign policy: Luxembourg’s foreign policy is very tightly linked to the European Union and its policies - where, as in all other policy fields, we participate very actively in the decision-making process. Foreign and security policy is a relatively new field of cooperation in Europe - but a very obvious one if one considers the European Union’s position in the world: Today, the European Union has a population of almost 500 million people - almost the same size as the Latin American population and more than the population of the United States and Russia taken together -, it generates a quarter of the world’s wealth and gives more aid to developing and poor countries than any other donor. The Euro, our common currency, comes second only to the US dollar on the international financial markets. It is therefore only natural that we try to spread the peace and security that lie at the heart of our European project beyond our borders. To achieve this goal, the European Union has developed, over the last fifteen years, a Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP, in short), as well as a European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP), that allow us to deliver on our commitment to act as a force for stability and understanding in the wider world.
This security and defence policy is the European Union’s very own strategic concept to address threats where they arise, from regional conflicts, from terrorism, from proliferation or in failed states. It is a policy field that is constantly expanding, providing the EU with credible means to intervene and act around the world, in the military as well as the civilian field. I am not sure whether you know that European forces, military and police, have been deployed in 3 different continents and that Europe today has more than 70.000 troops deployed in various peace support missions across the globe, if you consider ESDP missions as well as other international peacekeeping missions by NATO or the United Nations.
- Last year, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a European military mission, has contributed, in cooperation with the United Nations, to securing the first free and democratic elections in forty years in this war-torn country.
- In Aceh in Indonesia, a European Union monitoring mission oversaw the implementation of the peace agreement concluded in August 2005.
- In Iraq, the European Union’s civilian mission is training senior Iraqi officials and executive staff from the judiciary, the police and the penitentiary in the fields of management and criminal investigation, to assist the Iraqi people to build a peaceful and secure country. More than 1200 judges, senior magistrates and police have already participated in the EU-sponsored training. No later than last week, a group of Iraqi judges was in Luxembourg, as part of a Benelux training course in the context of the EUJUST Lex Mission.
- European troops today provide the backbone of the international community’s presence in trouble spots like Lebanon or Kosovo.
In most of these cases, the European Union was the obvious choice as peacekeeper, advisor or observer, because it was acceptable to all forces and actors involved, or because it could react quickly and efficiently, without intervening in a too disruptive fashion. Luxembourg is contributing to these European missions, financially or with personnel, as much as we can, without forgetting our commitment to NATO: we continue to also provide troops to NATO missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, for example: Luxembourg troops have been part of ISAF in Afghanistan since 2003 and of KFOR in Kosovo since 1999.
One of Europe’s most important commitments as a responsible global actor lies indeed with our immediate vicinity, the Balkans, where the European Union has been able to act as a stabilising force over the last years inter alia through the perspective of eventual EU integration. A major challenge remains, however, in this respect, ahead of us: the settlement and implementation of the future status of Kosovo and, related to it, our relations with Serbia. From the beginning of the efforts of the United Nations to find a solution for Kosovo’s status, the European Union has been a supporter of the process, and has stated its willingness and determination to fully play its role in Kosovo, and to become the driving force behind the future international presence there, working in cooperation with all the other international actors on the ground.
We are therefore already preparing for the biggest civilian mission that the EU has so far organised under the European Security and Defence Policy, in the fields of the rule of law and the judiciary, to help the authorities and the people of Kosovo to implement the new status and develop a well-functioning and modern democracy capable of being integrated into the European Union in a long-term perspective. Here again, Luxembourg stands ready to do its share as a member of the EU and has already confirmed initial contributions to this important mission.
Dear students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In his report to the General Assembly in March 2005, the then Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan stated that "Humanity will not enjoy security without development, it will not enjoy development without security, and it will not enjoy either without respect for human rights."
We certainly share the view that there is a need for an integrated concept of collective security; that development, security and human rights are interdependent and mutually reinforcing and we aim at reflecting this approach in the EU’s policy on the global stage.
I have tried these last few minutes to illustrate through various examples how the Union is aiming to contribute through political, civil and military crisis management to promote peace and security.
As far as development is concerned, let me mention some key facts that speak, I presume, for themselves: the European Union and its Member States together account for 55% of worldwide official development assistance (ODA). In this important field, as well as in others that I am going to come back to, the European Union is trying to set new standards, acting as a forerunner on the global scene. Indeed the EU, in the run-up to the 2005 UN Summit and the 5 year review of the Millennium Development Goals, showed its concrete commitment by reaffirming its determination to attain the internationally agreed target of development aid of 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2015, a decision which will result in an additional 20 billion euros a year in ODA.
Development policy is again a policy field of the European Union in which Luxembourg is very strongly involved. I am proud to say that Luxembourg is indeed one of the very few countries around the world that devote more than 0.7% of GNI to official development assistance. We have reached 0.89% in 2006, and we are aiming to attain 1% of GNI in the next few years. We will continue to push our partners in the European Union for increased commitment in this field, to make sure that the European Union will be able to honour its ambitious targets.
This commitment to fight global poverty stems not only from the moral obligation to help those poorer than we are, but resides also in the recognition that it will help to build a more stable, peaceful, prosperous and equitable world, reflecting the interdependency of its richer and poorer countries. Thus the need to pursue and step up our efforts and our assistance, which despite being substantial and more important than that of all the other donors, is far from being sufficient as long as some 1.200 children die of poverty every hour and a billion people are struggling to survive on less than a dollar a day.
Dear students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I will not have time to address all the major global challenges that Luxembourg, Europe and the international community are facing, but let me mention one more field in which the European Union tries to act as a global leader, to set an example and encourage the rest of the international community to act in turn: energy, environment and climate change. This does not only reflect the conviction of our public opinions, but has become a necessity.
At the European Council of March this year, we have taken groundbreaking decisions in this field: European leaders agreed on a long-term strategy on energy policy, setting binding targets to slash greenhouse gas emissions, develop renewable energy sources and promote energy efficiency. These targets are very ambitious: by 2020, at least 20% of the energy used in the EU should come from renewable sources and emissions should be reduced to 20% below the levels of 1990. To incite other big consumers of energy, like the United States, Russia, China, India or Brazil to follow suit, the European leaders also agreed to increase the emissions cap to 30% if those countries agree to cut their emissions as well. The European Union is actively working to prepare the period after 2012, when the Kyoto Protocol will have expired.
Dear students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have tried to give you a short overview over the European Union’s, and within it, Luxembourg’s, policies to address challenges in the field of foreign relations and security. In a world of global threats, our security and prosperity depend increasingly on an effective multilateral system. The EU understands its action on the global stage as a contribution to such an effective multilateral system, a stronger international society, well-functioning international institutions and a rule-based international order. In our interdependent world, the active European foreign and security policy does therefore go hand in hand with important bilateral relations with third countries and other multilateral organizations. I would not want to end this speech without sharing my thoughts on our relations with other actors on the world stage and especially Latin America and giving you my views on the kind of partnership Europe and Latin America should be developing in the future. Should it be a samba, where we dance apart from each other, or a lambada, which is a closer dance, more intimate?
Latin America is, without any doubt, an important partner to the EU. We could first stress the economic figures: Europe is Latin America’s second largest trade and investment partner, with rapidly expanding and prosperous business ties. But of course, the ties which unite us are not just about trade, because Europe and Latin America are also natural partners. Our relations are based on long-standing historical and cultural ties and shared values. Thus we are in a better position to understand each other, boosting our potential for joint action considerably.
In today’s world, Europe and Latin America need to form an alliance and work in synergy in order to be stronger in the international arena. I would even go further by saying that the cooperation is crucial for the interests of both regions.
Let me point out what I see as the main challenges.
First we need to strengthen the influence of both regions in the world. As I already mentioned, our large consensus on the global agenda is an important axis of the multilateral world order. Together we are better outfitted to face some of today’s common international challenges, challenges that know no borders: climate change, security, crime, poverty, sustainable development, just to mention a few. These global issues, whether in Latin America, Europe, in the Middle East or in Africa, affect us all.
A second important issue is the promotion of further regional integration and of economic exchanges. Let me first stress that the EU fully supports the process of regional integration, but not only for the sake of it, nor for the simple reason that "you should copy us as we are one ourselves". We believe that this form of cooperation will substantially increase Latin America’s weight on the world stage; it will attract foreign investors and decrease exposure to economic shocks. It will provide strong support for political stability and conflict prevention. Regional integration helps countries to become more active and influential partners rather than dependent spectators in global developments.
An idea like a single market in Latin America seems to me to merit further consideration as it holds many benefits. I understand also that some of your neighbouring countries have floated the idea of a common currency. Without wanting to engage here in a discussion on the pros and contras of such an instrument, I would just like to point out the enormous impact the Euro, the European common currency, had on the stability of our economy. The Euro is also an important instrument in the context of globalization.
I’m well aware that your country has until now adopted a more reserved attitude concerning regional integration, choosing not to completely integrate organizations like Mercosur or the Andean Community. I’m however deeply convinced that Chile with its great potential could bring an important contribution to these processes.
Another core element of our cooperation is the fight against social inequalities. The region remains, despite important efforts in this respect, one of the most inequitable region in the world. This particularly affects women, children and the indigenous populations. The number one priority for social cohesion is to create the necessary conditions for tackling poverty, social exclusion and inequalities, as the first steps towards sustainable growth and development.
Let me make it clear, that it’s not my intention to give lectures in social policy. Social cohesion is also at the heart of Europe’s own agenda. If the challenges facing the Europe and Latin America in their efforts to encourage more cohesive societies may differ in scale, degree and intensity, the issues concerned are basically the same. I am strongly convinced that the EU and Latin America must join forces against social inequalities.
Dear Chairman,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Europe needs to have strong, solid and reliable partners in Latin America like Chile. I believe Chile and Europe have in common a shared progressive vision of society and a shared commitment to effective multilateralism, to making international institutions work, and to upholding our common values.
Chile is often considered as the country setting an example in Latin America both politically and economically. Over the last seventeen years, your country has made remarkable progress as a stable and robust democracy and as a successful open economy. At the same time, I welcome the deep-rooted concern of the Chilean government to aim at a right balance between social protection and the conditions for keeping competitiveness and to move towards a more integrated and fairer society.
For us, the dialogue with Chile is essential.
I pointed out how the European Union is increasingly active on the international stage. Also in this respect, we value our cooperation with Chile, who plays an active role in the multilateral context promoting stability globally and regionally. It is aware of its responsibilities and has contributed for example both troops and civilian personnel to further United Nations efforts in Haiti, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Cyprus.
Dear students,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Before concluding, one word about the EU-Chile association agreement, which came into force five years ago. I’m happy to say that this agreement is an important milestone and is already leading to good results in all areas and fields contained in the agreement.
Our relationship is an increasingly prosperous one. We need to continue exploiting its full potential.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I hope that I have managed to give you a sense of how intrinsically Luxembourg’s policies, in every field, and in particular in foreign relations, as that is of my competence, are linked to European policies, how closely Luxembourg and the European Union are intertwined.
I also hope that I have been able to convey how the European Union has, over the last years, become a global player that is willing to take its responsibilities on the global scene, in cooperation and coordination with our partners, including our close allies in Latin America. I deeply believe that, though Europe and Latin America, - in our case, Luxembourg and Chile - are separated by geography, they are however joined by friendship, mutual understanding, and the humanitarian and democratic values that we share.
Let’s bring our already strong relationship to a yet higher level, a partnership in which both sides add strength to each other and which will produce results.
Thank you very much for your attention. I will be happy to answer all questions that you might have.