With the priority of strengthening ties between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean during the Spanish EU presidency, the EU-CELAC summit commences today in Brussels. This summit brings together leaders from the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in pursuit of closer collaboration and cooperation.
The S&Ds in the European Parliament believe this is a unique opportunity to reinforce the progressive agenda on both sides of the Atlantic, after eight years without this summit having been held.
Tomorrow, S&D leader Iratxe García Pérez will take part in an informal meeting organised by the Party of European Socialists (PES) and Socialist International with progressive leaders* of both regions. These include the President of both Spain and Socialist International Pedro Sánchez, the Prime Minister of Portugal António Costa, the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the Presidents of Argentina, Alberto Fernández; Brazil, Ignácio Lula da Silva; Chile, Gabriel Boric and Colombia, Gustavo Francisco Petro.
S&D Group president Iratxe García said:
“Faced with those who place economic interests above people and the planet, with those who want to impose the law of the strongest and undermine democracy and fundamental rights, we progressives on both sides of the Atlantic want to reinforce the politics of the people, of international law and of a rules-based multilateralism. Together, we represent more than one third of UN member countries, and we can make a difference against those powers that weaken the international system and the global efforts to make progress on sustainable development for all.
“As we witness a global reactionary trend that looks the other way in the face of growing inequalities, one that denies climate change and the rights of minorities and women, the European Union can rely on the Latin America and the Caribbean region to work together for our shared values.
“The EU has pushed Latin America and the Caribbean into the background for too long. During these four years of parliamentary mandate, we Socialists and Democrats have been working to strengthen this relationship. I hope this summit, together with the upcoming EuroLat Summit, will be the turning point for much closer cooperation and dialogue.
“As a sign of the commitment of the European progressives, tomorrow we are going to announce our commitment to contribute €1bn to the Amazon Fund, which was created in 2008 in order to invest in projects that revitalise the Brazilian Amazon – considered the lung of the world.
“If we want to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Latin America, inter-parliamentary cooperation is crucial. In order to address this, the European Parliament is planning to open an office in the region. It is a subject that we’ve had pending and – thanks to the initiative of the Socialists and Democrats – one that will see the light of day in the coming months.”
*Stefan Löfven, PES President, Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain and President of the Socialist International, Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany, António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal, Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark, Lula da Silva, President of Brazil, Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia, Alberto Fernández, President of Argentina, Gabriel Boric, President of Chile, Luis Abinader, President of the Dominican Republic, Alicia Barcena, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Iratxe García Pérez, President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament, and Elly Schlein, leader of PD Italy.
