Brussels, 21/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - Chile, which is host to the seventh EU/Latin America summit on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 January, wants to be the showcase of a Latin America determined to be a match for its European partner, thanks, amongst other things, to the current decade of economic boom. However, very few concrete results have so far been achieved, apart from the opening of bi-regional dialogue on investment and gender issues, and the setting of dates for the anticipated application of the EU/Central America association agreement and trade agreements with Peru and Colombia.
"Latin America and the Caribbean have a date with their history. We are making up for lost time. But we are only halfway there", said Chilean President Sebastian Pinera in late November 2012 in Santiago, Chile, at a press conference attended by EUROPE. "Chile is continuing to create jobs and cut poverty" and aims to have eradicated it by 2020, he added. In fact, this country, with zero external debt, is the OECD member which will experience the strongest growth in the period 2012-2014. Latin America and the Caribbean recorded average growth of 4.5% of GDP over the last three years. More than 150 million Latin Americans and Caribbeans were middle-class in 2009, according to the World Bank, even though there are still 170 million people living in poverty in the region.
The Chilean Foreign Minister, Alfredo Moreno Charme, who is very optimistic, summed up what is at stake with the event as far as the Latin American contingent is concerned. The summit, which will take place against an international backdrop marked by the "economic crisis", particularly in Europe, will favour "a better balance" between the two regions.
As regards the Europeans, they have stressed the importance of a "consolidation" summit of the strategic partnership established in 1999 at the Rio summit. First of all, at economic level. With trade in manufactured goods between the EU and Latin America doubling in the last 10 years (€214 billion) and with European investments representing more than 40% of total foreign investment, the EU is focusing on stepping up trade relations by setting dates for the application of the trade agreement with Peru and Colombia and the EU/Central America association agreement and on continuing talks with Mercosur (EUROPE 10767). Led by the commissioner for industry, Antonio Tajani, 50 entrepreneurs from 10 member states will be looking for new outlets in Latin America.
Although the two sides are united in "[their] commitment to avoid protectionism in all its forms", as stated in the draft summit declaration, of which EUROPE has obtained a copy, the EU leaders will express their concern at the tendencies of the South American continent to close itself off, as seen in the case of Argentina's restrictions, which the EU has denounced at the WTO, but also the slow pace of free-trade negotiations with Mercosur. In the light of cases of renationalisation of the energy sector in certain countries of the South-American bloc wishing to take back control over their resources, which led to the expropriation of Spanish energy groups such as Repsol in Argentina, Europe will highlight the need for a climate which is favourable to investment, and adequate legal protection. The EU/Latin America action plan 2012-2015, of which EUROPE has obtained a copy, includes a chapter on investment, which provides for dialogue on the promotion of stable and transparent regulatory frameworks for investment, but also "a culture in favour of the respect for national laws and legislation, particularly on anti-corruption and environmental protection".
Common values. "The summit will not be given over to the economy alone", it will also reiterate certain "common values", a European Commission source explained. The revised action plan 2013-2015 will include a new chapter on gender issues. The aim is to promote women's involvement in politics, eradicate all forms of violence against women and encourage women's (economic) independence. In the draft summit declaration, the 60 leaders also call for the possibility of including additional chapters on cooperation on higher education, public security, food security and foodstuffs to be examined.
The Madrid summit of 2010 saw the creation of the Euro-Latin American foundation, which is now based in Hamburg and is co-led by Benita Ferrero-Waldner (EUROPE 10142). The former European commissioner for foreign affairs, who hopes that the foundation will obtain international organisation status, has identified four immediate challenges to the Latin American countries: "improving the education system, becoming more involved in the world of science and technology, encouraging entrepreneurship and, lastly, achieving a better distribution of opportunities and reducing poverty".
The EU and Latin America, which are deeply committed to the principles of multilateralism, will reiterate their commitment to the UN process as regards the fight against climate change, and are expected to announce that they are prepared to look into holding a specific summit in 2014. On this, the EUrocLIMA will be renewed for the period 2014-2020. The summit will also express its support for the conclusion of negotiations on a binding treaty on the trade in weapons at the specific conference to be held in March of this year. (MB with EH/transl.fl)