MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brussels is waiting for Macri to renew relations, says top EU foreign affairs official

“I can assure you that we are going to renew that relation with Argentina with speed and determination”, said Federica Mogherini in Buenos Aires.

President Mauricio Macri has been invited to the European Union and “we are working so that when he arrives we will have several announcements to make and issues to materialize” said Argentine foreign minister Susana Malcorra after meeting in Buenos Aires with Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for foreign affairs.

 “We are working to define the president's visit date and a common agenda, but making sure that when he arrives in Brussels, we will have several announcements to make and issues to materialize”, said Malcorra on Wednesday at the San Martin Palace next to Ms Mogherini.

Earlier in the day the EU visitor met with President Macri and later held a round of bilateral talks on security, trade and political affairs.

Malcorra said that Macri has been invited to Brussels by EU top authorities and the purpose is to advance dialogue and in a wide agenda, hopefully looking into trade and investment opportunities for Argentina.

“We're holding a macroeconomic and financial dialogue in Buenos Aires next May between Argentina and the EU, and sometime next September/October a joint Argentine-European committee will advance on those issues”, revealed Malcorra.

On her side Mogherini underlined the reforms undertaken by the government of president Macri, and said “we believe those measures are essential to increase investment in the Argentine economy, to create jobs and have access to the world financial system. Now we are in conditions to advance and deepen EU/Argentina relations”.

“We share democratic values, social, cultural and economic links which are long standing and very deep. I can assure you that we are going to renew that relation with speed and determination”, added Mogherini.

The EU foreign affairs high representative also identified the “common priorities” between the EU and Argentina: trade, growth and jobs, investments from the European Investments bank, science and technology, agriculture, climate change, global competitiveness, development and education.