"This summit marks 50 years of bilateral relations between the EU and South Korea. Over the years, our relationship has turned into a strategic partnership. It is a multifaceted process. Dialogues and cooperation are intense in a wide number of fields where we share common interests. We cooperate with Korea in multilateral fora in working for peace and prosperity, promoting non-proliferation and disarmament, protecting human rights, fostering cyber-security and mobilising our capabilities for the promotion of sustainable development. We welcome the Republic of Korea's participation in EU crisis management missions, and its initiatives regarding Asian regional security, including those aimed at building trust in the Korean peninsula" said President Van Rompuy ahead of the meeting.
President Barroso said: "I am looking forward to welcome President Park in Brussels in such a symbolic year when we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our bilateral relations. I am happy to have contributed over these last years to transform these relations into a truly strategic partnership, which has been growing from strength to strength. During this summit, we will move forward our successful cooperation in the political area as well as in the economic one where our trade agreement features as an important landmark. Korea's goal of "creative economy" and the EU's strategy of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth are complementary and we have much to gain from cooperating with each other in areas such as research, higher education and industry. We also appreciate Korea's role on global issues and we intend to bring our positions further together on G20, international development and climate change. So I have very high expectations and I am confident that this summit will set the scene and the framework for another 50 years of fruitful relations."
The summit will start with a short tête-à-tête followed by a plenary session and press conference (11.50-12.20) before the summit lunch. Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn and RoK Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning Choi will sign an arrangement for the exchange of researchers in front of the press. A Leaders' declaration, marking 50 years of the establishment of bilateral relations between the EU and the Republic of Korea, will be issued, together with the traditional joint press statement at the end of the summit.
