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On 10 February 2005, Nicolas Schmit, Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and Immigration, welcomed a delegation from the Republic of El Salvador to Luxembourg. The delegation was led by Francisco Lainez, Minister for Foreign Affairs, who was accompanied by Yolanda Gavidia, Minister for the Economy, Roberto Espinal, Minister for Employment, and Eduardo Ayala Grimaldi, Deputy Minister for the Economy.
During a joint press conference, Nicolas Schmit and Francisco Lainez underlined the historic relations between the EU and El Salvador, as well as "the major issue that El Salvador has to discuss with the EU."
Nicolas Schmit pointed out that the important ties linking Central America with the EU were established "by means of the San José Process under Luxembourg Presidency in 1985, when the EU played a key role in re-establishing peace in Central America. El Salvador was a prominent player in this process, since it negotiated a historic peace agreement which contributed to the consolidation of peace in Central America."
In the light of the drawing up, by the EU, of a Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+) for the period 2006-2015, which offers third countries tariff preferences, "provided they have met a number of conditions, including ratification of International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions. For constitutional reasons, as well as reasons of internal stability, El Salvador is currently experiencing difficulties in ratifying these conventions," explained Nicolas Schmit. El Salvador’s constitution prohibits public-sector employees from becoming members of a trade union, which contradicts ILO conventions. Any modification of the constitution would risk jeopardising the delicate balance established after the conclusion of the peace agreement. "Despite El Salvador’s constitutional incapacity to ratify the conventions, the country respects them in practice," confirmed Nicolas Schmit.
Nicolas Schmit outlined the dire economic consequences of El Salvador’s possible exclusion from GSP+: "This would deprive El Salvador of a number of economic and commercial opportunities, undermine its economic development, limit foreign direct investment and cause considerable job losses. Our aim is to strengthen your country’s economic and social development. El Salvador’s exclusion from GSP+ would be contradictory, however, since it would bring about major social and economic problems. The Luxembourg Presidency will do everything in its power to find a solution to this problem, because we want El Salvador to benefit from GSP+. We shall seek to encourage the other Member States to demonstrate flexibility so that El Salvador can continue to profit from the advantages of GSP+." The Minister added that "Central American countries have shown exceptional maturity in resolving their conflicts. They are now on the way towards meaningful political and economic integration. The European example has inspired them in this process. We must encourage them to remain united and to pursue this promising course."
In conclusion, Nicolas Schmit underlined that: "The Luxembourg Presidency attaches great importance to closer ties with Latin American and Central American countries."
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