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Members of the European Parliament (EP) have favoured expansion and strengthening of cooperation between SAARC and European Commission in implementing the decisions of the 13th SAARC Summit held in the city last month, reports BSS.
They showed this sentiment while keenly appreciating a presentation made by Bangladesh Ambassador to Brussels and Representative to the European Commission Syed Maudud Ali at a briefing on the outcome of the 13th SAARC Summit at the Parliamentary Sub-Committee on South Asia at the European Parliament on December 14.
The Bangladesh Ambassador, who had been invited to brief the European Parliament Sub-Committee on the outcome of the 13th SAARC Summit, highlighted the important outcomes of the Summit in his presentation, said a message received in the city Thursday said.
The Summit, Ambassador Ali said, was a turning point for SAARC as the South Asian leaders designated the coming decade as the 'Decade of Implementation' to enable this regional body meet the hopes and aspirations of the common people of this part of the world. The SAARC leaders were unanimous in supporting this idea, he told the sub-committee.
He said agreements on Taxation and Customs cooperation were signed to facilitate trade among the SAARC countries and the leaders also decided to remove non-tariff and para-tariff barriers and encourage investment.
Poverty, Ambassador Ali said, was recognised as the greatest challenge facing the region. In accordance with Bangladesh's proposal, 2006-2015 has been proclaimed as the SAARC Decade for Poverty Alleviation.
Besides, the SAARC leaders in their 13th Summit agreed on a comprehensive strategy while 22 SAARC Development Goals were endorsed to be achieved in the next five years.
Ambassador Ali said the SAARC leaders recognised the importance of the social dimension of development. All the member countries have already formed National Coordination Committees to implement the SAARC Social Charter.
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