The president of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy will visit Santo Domingo on 20 July 2014 to participate in the celebration of the 25 years of political, diplomatic relations and economic cooperation between the Dominican Republic and the European Union. President Danilo Medina and Van Rompuy will participate in an agenda planned for the visit that is being organized by the team of ambassador Alberto Navarro, chief of the European Union in the country.
On the agenda is signing of the renewal of the National Indicative Program, “as a sign of confidence in the country, which has demonstrated its commitment to democracy, respect for human rights and the rule of law,” explained the delegation upon announcing the visit.
Also on the agenda is participating in a gala concert at the National Theater on 21 July to commemorate the 25 years of relations.
This is the first time that the president of the European Union visits the Dominican Republic. Antonia Calvo, in charge of business affairs for the European Union delegation says that the DR is a priority partner for the European Union in the Caribbean.
President Leonel Fernandez had met with Rompuy during a visit made to the European Council in Brussels in July 2012, prior to leaving the Presidency in August 2012.
The European Union is the second trade partner of the DR and the country’s most important foreign investor. It is also the DR’s first economic development partner.
It is estimated that over the past 25 years, the European Union has provided economic cooperation for more than EUR1 billion, or around RD$60 billion pesos to the Dominican Republic.
Rompuy is a former Prime Minister of Belgium and has been President of the European Council since 2009. He is in his second term in office that runs through 30 November 2014.
Read more in Spanish: http://presidencia.gob.do/comunicados/presidente-consejo-europeo-viene-rd-para-celebrar-25-anos-de-cooperacion