Cooperation programme agreed by Panama and European Commission
(isria.info) During a constructive meeting held yesterday in Brussels, the European Commissioner for External Relations and Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and Panama's First Vice-President and Foreign Minister, Samuel Lewis Navarro, agreed to allocate €18.5 million (about $25 million) to a programme of support for isolated rural areas in Panama.
At the end of the meeting the Commissioner said: "With this programme we intend to promote the development of poorer regions. We are firmly committed to strengthening our political and economic relations with Panama."
The Commissioner regretted the country's non-renewal of the GSP+, of which it had made good use in the past. She recognised the efforts that Panama had made and welcomed the fact that it might apply in 2010.
Vice-President Lewis thanked the Commissioner for the efforts made to bring about this support for rural areas in Panama. Both parties view the programme as a priority and are committed to designing and implementing it quickly so that this aid reaches the beneficiaries as soon as possible.
Vice-President Lewis was accompanied at the meeting by the Deputy Trade Minister Severo Sousa.
