The
recent summit held during the 17th and 18th of May in
Madrid brought together the Chiefs of State of the European
Union (EU), Latin America and the Caribbean States (LAC).
The summit, organized within the framework of the Spanish
Presidency of the European Union, raised a range of different
issues aimed at furthering the ties between the two regions,
strengthen economic and political commitments and deepen
the multilateral dialogue between the EU, Latin America
and the Caribbean nations.
One
of the most important areas of discussion, evidenced by
recent events, centered around global terrorism and the
need for member countries in gathering together to fight
against it. This theme - which could be considered by
some as a diversion from more pressing issues such as
human and economic development, improved health care and
education - obtained the longest reference in the political
addendum of the Madrid Commitment.
As
the Summit's final declaration, the Madrid Commitment
aims to strengthen multilateral ties on the basis and
principles of the UN Charter and International Law. Furthermore,
it calls for a reinforcement of the democratic institutions
and the rule of law, a reference that is not exempt from
parallelisms with the recent events which have affected
Venezuela, although it does not give a clear indication
as how to reach this. It also includes a statement in
favor of reinforcing the co-operation against drug trafficking,
a problem that is increasingly affecting the European
Union. The final communiqué also included a paragraph
against racial discrimination and xenophobia, an issue
which has been recently put to the forefront of the political
agenda due to the rise of populism and the extreme right
in countries such as France and Holland.
On
the economic angle, the Commitment seeks to increase efforts
in bi-regional co-operation and to promote economic growth
to combat poverty through such pillars as strong democratic
institutions, macroeconomic stability and the closing
of the technology gap. One of the most important achievements
to come out of the Madrid Summit in the economic sphere
is the Association Agreement between Chile and the European
Union, giving the Andean nation a privileged trading status
with the 15 member states. This new agreement has been
one of the most ambitious signed yet by the European Union
and a Latin American state and goes farther than the previous
one signed with Mexico.
A special
mention was also made to recent efforts by Argentina to
complete a new economic program aimed at reshaping the
country's ailing economy. However, its financial and economic
woes are far from over and the continual dragging of the
country's economic problems is giving rise to fears of
a contagion on neighboring Mercosur nations such as Brazil
and Uruguay.
Global
liberalization and multi-lateral trade as concluded in
Doha were also emphasized. The agreement nevertheless
gives some leeway for the concerns voiced by anti-globalization
groups by underlining the importance of the development
provision of the Doha declaration, which aims to give
developing countries special and differential treatment.
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A special
mention was included for the small island states of the
Caribbean basin which are increasing ties with the European
Union within the framework of the Caribbean Community
(CARICOM). As Edwin W. Carrington, Secretary General of
the CARICOM put it, "we are fighting in all fronts,
the Cotonu framework, the EU and the Commonwealth."
The Caribbean islands are increasingly becoming dependent
to a wider market and the need to find niches for their
agricultural and industrial products pushes them to seek
ties with the EU as well as improve existing ones with
Latin America.
During
a joint press conference attended by the Presidents of
Mexico and Brazil as well as the EU Commissioner Romano
Prodi and the High Representative for Foreign and Security
Policy Javier Solana, José María Aznar,
President of Spain and host to the event, expressed his
satisfaction as to the way the Summit had evolved and
to the progress made in the range of issues treated. Aznar
praised the previous Rio conference in 1999 which had
launched the process of developing bilateral ties between
the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean basin
and asserted that the conditions towards a political dialogue
were healthy, a statement that hints towards recent fears
that political instability in the region (Venezuela, Colombia)
could prove to be obstacles in the relations between the
EU and Latin America.
On
the economic and development issues Aznar stated that
some important challenges were still evident. Among these
he mentioned the ongoing need to guarantee better living
standards for the citizens of the nations involved and
improve and adapt education in order to assume the challenges
that new technologies are bringing to human development.
The Madrid Compromise, Aznar concluded, was a strong spirit
with important ambitions.
During
his intervention, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, President
of Brazil, had some words of caution towards recent unilateral
stances that some nation states have taken. He mentioned
that recent protectionist measures (in clear allusion
to the US Government's decision to impose barriers on
steel imports from Brazil) were dangerous to multilateral
trade. EU Commissioner Romano Prodi added to his fears
that a return to protectionist measures would come in
the way of further economic development. These declarations
were interpreted as a toughening of stances from both
regional blocks, the EU and Latin America, against the
US's recent protectionist moves in order to protect some
of its industries.
President
Fox of Mexico (a noted absence from the summit was Fidel
Castro of Cuba) takes the baton of the next summit to
be held in Mexico in 2004. Several issues will be of singular
relevance during this period. The health of the democratic
system in countries hit by political instability such
as Colombia and Venezuela will certainly be closely followed.
It also remains to be seen whether the only-timid accomplishments
since the last Rio Summit in 1999 in areas of human development
and education as well as improved living standards in
countries such as Haiti will still be relevant in the
next event or whether more tangible progresses will have
been achieved.
Alexander
Dunn |
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