Caribbean urged to strengthen relationship with Europe

SANTIAGO, Chile, CMC – The head of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has called on the region to build a “more symmetrical, balanced and equitable relationship with Europe.” “We want foreign investment that helps us modernize our production structure, that contributes to employment, that helps us care for the environment and that respects social rights,” said ECLAC’s executive secretary, Alicia Bárcena, in addressing the opening session of the First Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the European Union (CELAC-EU) Academic Summit here on Wednesday. Bárcena noted that the EU is Latin Americas and the Caribbean's main cooperator, largest direct investor and second trading partner.