Brussels, 07/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - The third meeting of European and Latin-American "organised civil society" is scheduled to take place from 13 to 15 April in Mexico, on the initiative of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The discussions will mainly focus on social cohesion, the core theme of the EU/Latin America summit in Guadalajara (28 and 29 May). Participants are due to adopt a declaration addressed to the Heads of State and Governments, requesting in particular the implementation of a concrete timeline to strengthen social cohesion in Latin America and institutional links between representatives of civil society on both sides of the Atlantic.
Social cohesion will for a large part be dependent on the consolidation of the State and tax systems needed for greater equality and efficiency, commented José Maria Zufiaur Narvaiza, President of the ESC Committee for Latin America in Brussels on Tuesday. The quality of education and health services and access to infrastructures are reliant on better functioning of the State, he pointed out. He was quick to add that it is not about "handing out lessons" to Latin America, but making available European experience, and referred to the solidarity mechanisms set up in the EU in parallel with market liberalisation.
The participants are also due to raise the "institutionalisation of relations between the organisations representing civil society." Consultative socio-economic forums already exist within Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay), the Andean community or Central American integration system, highlighted José Maria Zufiaur Narvaiza. However, further discussions will take place in Mexico on a draft piece of legislation to set up a similar forum, he said. A meeting on this subject is scheduled for 16 April between EESC members and trade union representatives, employers' organisations and Mexican NGOs. The aim of the Mexico meeting is to make proposals and find negotiators to face association agreement management committees made up of State representatives, noted Mr Zufiaur Narvaiza.