By: Staff Writer
November 24, 2023
The European Union approved its conclusions on relations with the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, citing the importance to promoting sustainable growth as a priority.
The EU Council said that upon relaunching their bi-lateral relationship with the LAC at the EU-LAC Summit held in July, 2023 that there was a need for more open and inclusive dialouge between both parties.
The EU will also move to encourage the LAC to take more seriously their engagement with Russia considering the ongoing conflict between that country and the Ukraine. “The EU will continue its engagement with LAC on Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war ofaggression against Ukraine, including on its repercussions experienced also far outside of Europe. In the EU-CELAC Summit Declaration, leaders from both regions expressed deep concern at the ongoing war against Ukraine, which continues to cause immense human suffering and is exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy, constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity and elevating financial stability risks. The leaders also expressed support to the efforts aimed at a just and sustainable peace in line with the UN Charter. The EU will seek the support of LAC countries for Ukraine’s Peace Formula,including through an upcoming Global Peace Summit, the accountability for war crimes, crime of aggression and other most serious crimes committed during the war as well as for counteringRussia’s disinformation.”
They also said: The Summit set out an ambitious and forward-looking common agenda which should be implemented in the years to come. The Council commends the new momentum in EU-LACrelations and welcomes the Joint Communication “A New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean” by the European Commission and the High Representativeof the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, including the outlined priorities and suggested actions.”
“The EU-LAC partnership derives its strength from the fundamental commitment of both regions to all the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN), including the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international humanitarian law. The EU reaffirms the importance of the promotion, protection and respect of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression and media, the protection of human rights defenders and journalists. The EU also reaffirms the need to strengthen the rule of law and democracy, including free and fair, inclusive, transparent and credible elections and gender equality. The EU will maintain a close dialogue with LAC on the implementation of these principles and cooperate with a view to promote a rights-based approach, tackle inequalities, promote the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, protect civic space and combat all forms of discrimination, including on grounds of sex, race, ethnic or social origin, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, disability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.”
The conclusions highlight that, at multilateral level, the EU and LAC are natural partners and should further strengthen their cooperation in addressing regional and global challenges, including the global climate and environmental crises. The EU is committed to working with LAC partners for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as on the reform of global governance, including the international financial architecture, to make it more inclusive and effective.
The Council recognises the importance of strengthening and developing EU-LAC trade, with the full implementation of existing agreements and ratification of agreements signed. The Council welcomes the imminent signature of the modernised EU agreement with Chile, looks forward to the rapid finalisation of the modernised agreement with Mexico and takes note of the ongoing work between the EU and Mercosur.