Mogherini receives Foreign Minister of Argentina Malcorra to launch new fields of cooperation

High Representative Federica Mogherini received today Susana Malcorra, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina. This official visit marks their third bilateral meeting in a month, after the official visit of the High Representative to Buenos Aires on March 2016, and the bilateral meeting in the margin of the Nuclear security Summit in Washington D.C. The High Representative and the Minister have expressed their will to relaunch EU-Argentina relations and to start opening different fields of cooperation.

High Representative Federica Mogherini received today Susana Malcorra, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Argentina. This official visit marks their third bilateral meeting in a month, after the official visit of the High Representative to Buenos Aires on March 2016, and the bilateral meeting in the margin of the Nuclear security Summit in Washington D.C. The High Representative and the Minister have expressed their will to relaunch EU-Argentina relations and to start opening different fields of cooperation.

They discussed the state of play of the EU-Mercosur relations after the recent announcement on an exchange of offers to launch new negotiations between the two trading blocs. Mogherini welcomed the decision of the Argentinian President Macri to end a number of trade restrictions.

The EU and Argentina will also establish another channel of cooperation on the refugee crisis "Argentina is a country that historically has been hosting many different people from many different corners of the world, including many Europeans" said Mogherini. "Argentina is already doing a lot. It is receiving hundreds of Syrian refugees and has introduced a fast track procedure for refugees requesting shelter."

The High Representative also stressed the common position on the Colombian Peace Process "As you know, we will host in Luxembourg for the Foreign Affairs Council Dr Sergio Jaramillo, the High Commissioner for Peace from Colombia next Monday. The role that Argentina is playing in the region is essential".

Finally the two sides also exchanged initial thoughts on a memorandum of understanding between the European Union and Argentina on trilateral development cooperation. "This is, we believe, a sector where we can work very well together especially towards countries in Africa that could benefit from our joint experience and resources" concluded Mogherini.

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