Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner visits Central America and announces aid packages

The European Commissioner for external relations and European neighbourhood policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, was to tour Central America from 30 September to 4 October 2007, where she would visit, for the first time as a Commissioner, Panama (30 September to 1 October), El Salvador (1-2 October), Honduras (3 October) and Nicaragua (3-4 October).

Three weeks before the first round of negotiations on an Association Agreement between the EU and Central America to be held in Costa Rica at the end of October, Ms Ferrero-Waldner wished to send a strong signal to the region of the importance the EU accords to this agreement. The Commissioner would meet the President and Foreign Affairs Minister of each country. She would also visit projects financed by the European Union and meet representatives of the press and civic society. In each country she would present the European Commission's proposed new aid programmes for 2007-2013.

• Primary Source

European Commission: DG Trade: Countries and regions: Central America http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/regions/central-america/

ESO: Background information: Relations between Nicargua and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-nicargua-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Relations between Honduras and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-honduras-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Relations between El Salvador and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-el-salvador-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Relations between Guatemala and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-guatemala-and-the-european-union/

ESO: Background information: Relations between the European Union and Costa Rica http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-the-european-union-and-costa-rica/

ESO: Background information: Relations between Panama and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-panama-and-the-european-union/

---