Above: the meeting in Panama

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Dominican Republic President Danilo Medina held talks Friday with Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission.

Both are currently in Panama for the Summit of Heads of State and Government of regional body SICA. Panama’s capital is also playing host to the EU-SICA plenary session.

SICA is the Central American Integration System, which the Dominican Republic joined as a full member earlier this year.

The two sides discussed areas of “mutual interest” between the Dominican Republic and the European Union, according to a Dominican government statement.

They also addressed a European Union programme targeting trade between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

Barroso also sought information on the steps the Dominican government is taking to implement the Constitutional Court judgment that is affecting hundreds of thousands of Dominicans of Haitian descent.

The statement said Medina took the opportunity to “share the actions and measures taken by his government” on this matter.