European Union sees Peru and Latin America as a “reference partner”

Latin America and the Caribbean They are a reference partner for the European Union (EU) for shared values ​​such as democracy, separation of powers and the rule of law, said the deputy managing director for the Americas of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Javier Niño.

“We believe that Peru and Latin America and the Caribbean are the reference partner for the European Union. When talking about these values, we believe that it is the region where we find the greatest complicity,” said Niño in Lima.

Therefore, he considered that the first element to take into consideration is “how to consolidate that political alliance that, for example, has allowed the region, in a very majority way, to support the European postulates in the war in Ukraine.”

In this sense, he considered that the world lives today “in a very turbulent panorama”with a “sort of clash between two models”, one that “it is based on democracy”supported “in the separation of powers, which is based on the rule of law.”

The second model is that of a “society with a slightly more authoritarian drift”, whichEU “it downplays the importance of these elements and is much more focused on issues of security and economic development.”

As part of the approach to Latin America, the EU has launched ‘Global Gateway’, which proposes promoting the development of infrastructure in the region, as well as in Southeast Asia and Africa, in addition to competing with the Chinese New Silk Road.

Last July’s summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) allowed us to focus on this initiative.

The European Commission (EC) He took advantage of this summit to convey to Latin America and the Caribbean that the institutions and member states of the EU will invest US$ 48,605 million in the region until 2027 through the ‘Global Gateway’ in areas such as raw materials, technological infrastructure, clean energy or healthcare.

Priorities in Latin America

In this regard, Niño explained that the EU has a “series of very specific priorities” in Latin America, as “consolidate economic or commercial relations at the regional level.”

“We are trying to finalize the Mercosur agreement, modernize the agreements with Mexico and Chile, and work a lot on the issue of investments,” he stressed.

After his visit to Peru, he will continue his tour in Colombia, to prepare for the EU-Celacwhich will take place in 2025 in that country.

When asked about how he expects the relationship between both blocks to develop that year, he commented that, “from the administrative, bureaucratic point of view”, they want it to be active “a permanent coordination mechanism between the two regions.”

This mechanism, which does not yet exist, is “one of the themes” what you will discuss during your visit to Colombia and? “He wants there to be regular contact.”

The purpose is that “that platform promotes meetings” that will be held every year and the summits, “which, from now on, will be held every two years.”

Child waits for it to bear fruit “frank conversations” in which the parties are capable “Also to address the issues where we have disagreements in the region.”