Photo by Parker Hilton on Unsplash
MEPs and Latin American parliamentarians have highlighted the importance of revitalising rules-based multilateralism and working together to recover from recent crises.
The 15th Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat) that took place this week in Madrid concluded its work on Thursday (27 July) with participants highlighting the need to continue promoting and strengthening the bi-regional Strategic Partnership based on common principles, values and interests.
Parliamentarians have stressed the importance of revitalising rules-based multilateralism to address major global challenges, reiterating its condemnation in the strongest terms of the Russian Federation’s unjustified, illegal and unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.
The members of EuroLat stressed the need for the governments of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean to intensify efforts towards a recovery from the different inflation, food, health, migration and energy crises that have created greater inequalities, while highlighting the need to continue working on a fair and inclusive social, green and digital transition.
This meeting between parliamentarians from both sides of the Atlantic took place one week after the summit in Brussels of EU leaders and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). In this context, parliamentarians have reiterated their support for the various processes of regional integration, including the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America, the Association Agreements with Mexico and Chile, and the Association Agreement between the EU and Mercosur, which they hope it will be ratified before the end of the year.
In the closing session, MEP Javi López (S&D, ES), co-President of EuroLat said: “We concluded the 15th Eurolat Assembly successfully and with great satisfaction. We had the opportunity to take stock of last week’s 3rd EU-CELAC Summit in Brussels and to open a new stage in our bi-regional relations. A stage characterised by greater dialogue, a stronger institutionalisation of our ties and the willingness to address, together, the great global challenges that today challenge us such as climate change, threats to our democracies, or the questioning of international law. I am firmly convinced that both regions will live up to and take advantage of the opportunities this gives us to advance together on an equal footing, to strengthen ties and build bridges in a world that needs them.”
Amado Cerrud, Panamanian Congressman elected President of Eurolat by the Latin American component at this 15th Assembly in Madrid said: “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have greatly appreciated the diversity that EuroLat contains, and know that seeking for the points that unite us is more important than the divergences between us. We will go hand in hand with Europe to achieve more agreements than disagreements that decisively impact our societies to help make this world a better place”.
The Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat) is the parliamentary institution of the European Union’s Bi-Regional Strategic Partnership – Latin America and the Caribbean and meets in plenary session once a year.
The next EuroLat meeting will take place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, from 30 October to 2 November.
