12/11/2012
From Monday 12 to Friday 23, in Brussels and Madrid XI edition of the FAES-CES Programme of Latin American Visitors 30 young politicians from 20 countries are invited to get to know the European and Spanish political and economic system They will meet with Aznar, Tajani, Martens, Gracia, Garc?a-Legaz, L?pez-Ist?riz, Gonzalez, Botella and Cospedal, among others They will analyze the European ideological debate, the foreign policy of the EU and Spain, and banking union, among other topics FAES Foundation holds from Monday 12 November to Friday 23, the eleventh edition of its Latin American Visitor Program, which is developed in Brussels and Madrid in collaboration with the Centre for European Studies and the State Secretariat for International Cooperation and for Latin America. The programme brings together 30 young politicians from 20 Latin American countries with the aim of getting them to know the European and Spanish political, institutional and economic system and receive training in the exercise of leadership. The FAES-CES Programme of Latin American Visitors, which develops conferences, seminars and training workshops, aims to create a positive vision of Europe and Spain among young Latin American leaders who occupy relevant positions in the institutions and parties of their countries of origin and who have a strong background and experience in political affairs. MEETINGS WITH PERSONALITIES During the two-week programme, the participants will have the opportunity to meet with prominent European and Spanish personalities such as, among others, the President of FAES and former prime Minister of Spain, Jos? Mar?a Aznar, the Vice President of the European Commission Antonio Tajani, the Chairman of the European People's Party, EPP, and former Prime Minister of Belgium, Wilfried Martens, the Deputy Minister for Cooperation and for Latin America, Jesus Gracia, and for Trade, Jaime Garc?a-Legaz, the Secretary-General of the EPP and of the Centrist Democrat International, Antonio L?pez-Ist?riz, the Premier of the Community of Madrid, Ignacio Gonzalez, the Mayor of Madrid, Ana Botella, the director general of the Civil Guard, Ignacio Cosid?, the former Minister of Defense of Colombia and ambassador to the EU, Rodrigo Rivera, the general secretary of Partido Popular, Dolores de Cospedal, the director general of Strategy and Funding of the Official Credit Institute, ICO, Fernando Navarrete, the general director of CES, Tomi Huhtanen and the economist Fernando Fern?ndez. BRUSSELS The eleventh edition of the Latin Visitor Programme has begun on Monday 12 November in Brussels, where, until Friday 16, participants will meet with political leaders of the EU, they will visit the European Parliament and the Commission, and get to know first hand the Springeneration initiative, linked to the CES. These activities will address, among other issues, the political and ideological debate in Europe and the functioning of the EU institutions; the EU's foreign policy and of cooperation; the work to strengthen democracy in Latin America; the security and fight against organized crime; the situation in the Arab world; and the role of think tanks. MADRID The second part of the program will be held in Madrid from Monday 19 November until Friday 23. FAES headquarters will host several lectures by different personalities of the Spanish political and economic sphere, which cover issues such as banking union in response to the euro crisis, reforming the Spanish regions self-governing model, Spain's foreign policy toward Latin America, the importance of the Atlantic link, and the concept of freedom in the 21st century, among other topics. While in Spain, students will also visit the headquarters of the Community of Madrid and of the capital's City Hall, where they will meet with the regional Premier, Ignacio Gonzalez and the Mayor, Ana Botella. They will also visit the headquarters of the Partido Popular, where they will be received by the general secretary, Dolores de Cospedal, and the headquarters of Telef?nica and Banco Santander.