The European Union and Latin America: relations and model

AutorJoaquín Roy
Páginas147-151

Page 147

1 Historical and operational framework

Besides the intimate relationship between North America and the European continent, there are no two regions in the world with a deeper mutual affinity than the one that exists between Europe and the conglomerate comprised of Latin America and the Caribbean. 1 The roots of modern-day Latin America and the Caribbean can be traced back to the history, political culture, languages and predominant religion to the Old Continent. For these reasons, there should not be a more fertile land for the installation of the model of regional integration developed by the European Union during the Page 148 last half a century.2 Relations between the two regions should be superior to any other EU's links with the rest of the world. Latin America and the Caribbean should be ideal candidates for receiving the highest attention from Europe and its institutions, resulting in solid integration systems mirroring the EU.3 However, the reality is that it is an unequal political marriage. Commercial exchanges are comparatively limited, while regional integration in Latin America and the Caribbean seems to be lagging behind in terms of commitment and results.4

Nonetheless, the collective profile is impressive. The combined bloc comprised of the European member states and the Latin American and Caribbean countries is truly outstanding: it includes 60 sovereign states, with a population of over one billion people, creating over a quarter of the world's GDP. However, for the most part the predominance of the EU bloc is overwhelming, although for positive reasons. Europe is the leading donor to the Latin American region. It was the first foreign investor, and it is the second most important trade partner.5 In addition to the subregional programs (described below), the EU offers a series of horizontal programs: AL-INVEST (to help to small and medium-sized companies), ALFA (for the promotion of co-operation in higher education), URB-AL (links between European and Latin American cities), ALBAN (reinforcement of co-operation in Higher Education), @LIS (information technologies), and EUSOCIAL (social policies, health, education, administration of justice, employment and taxation policies).

On the EU side, this unequal relationship is shaped through a plan-concept known as "Strategic Partnership". The EU's aim in its policy towards the region is to strengthen the political dialogue, in order to better address the new global challenges.6 EU relations with Latin American countries have developed at bi-regional level, and there have been a number of specialized "dialogues" with specific sub-regions and two individual countries (Mexico and Chile).

This relationship is based on three pillars: economic co-operation, institutionalized political dialogue, and trade relations. The aims of economic and political co-operation in the EU are to support regional integration, to increase the competitiveness of Latin American enterprises in international markets, and to facilitate the transfer of European know-how.

The recognition of Latin America and the Caribbean in the institutional framework of the European Union is a recent phenomenon. This peculiarity is in part explained by some complementary dimensions. First, the initial membership and the original aims of the European Communities since the 1950s need to be taken into account. In its early years, the European Community concentrated its efforts on developing a common commercial policy. The European Political Cooperation (EPC) - the predecessor of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) - was very modest in scope.

Secondly, Latin America was not even mentioned in the Schuman Declaration that propelled the formation of the original European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). Only Africa was recalled as an additional recipient of the benefits of the aims and purposes of European integration. This apparent discriminatory mention was due to the overwhelming role played by France, the only European Community state power to have former colonies at that time, with the exception of the Belgian colonial control over the Congo. The Caribbean was not seriously considered by the EU until the entry of the UK to the European Community.

Under the inspiration of the interests of France and Germany, who sought to replicate their accomplishments towards peace and reconciliation in Central America's violent confrontations, the European institutions began to pay attention to the region. Latin America at last received the favors of Brussels when in 1986 Portugal and Spain became members. The rest of the 1980s and the 1990s marked the golden era for EU-Latin American/Caribbean relations, in part due to the European interest in contributing to the pacification of conflict zones, such as Central America. The impetus given to the exportation of the European model of integration was another decisive factor for EU involvement in the region.

The structure of EU-Latin American relations is based on regular summits at the highest level of government on both continents. Every two years, the Heads of State and Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean meet, in a designated city, with the venue alternating between Europe and Latin America.7 The last event was held in Lima, Peru, in May 2008.8 Previous gatherings took place in Rio de Janeiro (1999), Madrid (2002),9 Guadalajara (2004)10 and Vienna (2006).11 At the same time, this bilateral relationship has been reinforced through a forum created by Latin America and the Caribbean, designed for political consultation: the Rio Page 149 Group.12 At the level of ministers of foreign affairs, the officers of the EU and the Latin American/ Caribbean region discuss overall political matters. Every two years, they alternate the location of the meeting between the two continents. Following the last event 2007 in Santo Domingo, the 2009 event will be hosted by Prague.

Mindful of the subdivision of the Latin American/Caribbean subregions, the EU has been organizing its framework of activities with individual trading blocs and subregional integration schemes. In this area, Brussels is responsible for the existing schemes: the Andean Community13, the MERCOSUR14, Central America,15 and the Caribbean.16 The fact that two individual countries (Mexico and Chile) do not belong to any of these subregional Latin American schemes has led the EU to arrange individual agreements. In fact, they are the most advanced in terms of close economic relations. The Dominican Republic and Haiti have been added to the Africa, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) grouping, devised to receive EU aid. Cuba has also joined, pending its application for the signing the Cotonou (successor of the Lomé Convention) Agreement.

2 Comparative analysis and balance

The EU has experienced major economic difficulties and political defeats in the course of its development (constitutional experiments) and expansion (enlargement) processes...

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