On Monday, 21 June, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell mentioned that the EU needs to do more to help Latin America fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
The pandemic is ebbing in Europe and Southeast Asia, while “22% of the contamination” is occurring in Latin America—where 8% of the world’s population lives—and “every day 4,400 people die [from Covid-19], half of them in Brazil”, an alarmed Mr Borrell pointed out at the end of the Foreign Affairs Council. In his opinion, the EU’s insufficient involvement with the Latin American continent—particularly in terms of vaccine donations—leaves the door open too wide for competitors, such as China.
Spain announced its willingness to provide more vaccine doses to Latin American countries.
On the trade front, Mr Borrell wanted progress to be made with countries or regions whose negotiations on free trade agreements are the most advanced, in the following order: Mexico, Chile, and Mercosur.
Venezuela. The High Representative also announced that he is sending a technical mission to investigate whether the security and political conditions have been met for an EU electoral observation mission to be sent for the November regional elections.
“It is good if it is possible to have eyes on the ground” to observe, felt Mr Borrell, lamenting the previous failed attempt to observe the December 2020 legislative elections in which the Maduro regime took control of the National Assembly. It will only be possible to send an EU electoral mission this coming November if the exploratory technical mission believes that the Venezuelan political system will ensure “a minimum trust that it is going to be free and fair” in the holding of elections. He will base his decision on the report from the exploratory mission. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)