Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean

Transcription

1 Sistema Económico Latinoamericano y del Caribe Latin American and Caribbean Economic System Sistema Econômico Latino-Americano e do Caribe Système Economique Latinoaméricain et Caribéen Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, Venezuela 13 and 14 March 2006 SP/ SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF- 06

2 Copyright SELA, March All rights reserved.copyright Printed in the Permanent Secretariat of SELA,, Venezuela. The Press and Publications Department of the Permanent Secretariat of SELA must authorize reproduction of this document, whether totally or partially, through The Member States and their government institutions may reproduce this document without prior authorization, provided that the source is mentioned and the Secretariat is aware of said reproduction.

3 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF-06 C O N T E N T S A. RAPPORTEUR S REPORT 3 B. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 7 C. CLOSING SESSION 9 ANNEXES: ANNEX I: Speech by Ambassador Roberto Guarnieri Permanent Secretary of SELA 11 ANNEX II: Work Programme 17 ANNEX III: List of Participants 21

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5 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF-06 3 A. RAPPORTEUR S REPORT 1. The Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by the Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), took place at the headquarters of SELA on 13 and 14 March Participants at the meeting included representatives of the following Member States of SELA: Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela; as well as representatives of the following organizations: Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), ECLAC, Andean Community and European Commission. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the governments of Switzerland and Finland, in their capacity as observers; as well as the Permanent Secretariat of SELA, Ambassador Roberto Guarnieri, and officials of the Permanent Secretariat. The list of participants is included in Annex III. 3. The opening session was in charge of the Permanent Secretary of SELA, Ambassador Roberto Guarnieri, who welcomed the participants and delivered a speech underscoring the importance and relevance of the event. In his speech, the Permanent Secretary pointed out that the main objective of the regional meeting was to contribute to outline common positions of the Member States of SELA at the Bi-regional Summit of Heads of State and Government of Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union, which is to be held in Vienna in May. Guarnieri s speech is included in Annex I. 4. The Meeting adopted the Work Programme included in Annex II. 5. The base document for the Meeting was the study commissioned by the Permanent Secretariat, Current Status and Prospects of the Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean (SP/RR-REUE-ALC/Di Nº 1-06), which was prepared by international consultants Carlos Quenan, professor of the Higher Latin American Studies Institute of the Sorbonne University, and Christian Ghymers, Chief Expert of the European Commission. 6. The consultants delivered speeches on the contents of the study, based on two basic premises: (i) The generation of new impetus to bi-regional relations calls for special efforts on the part of our region, so that it can exert healthy pressure on the EU in order to boost coherence among the priority issues and take full advantage of it. (ii) For Latin America and the Caribbean, the contents of the region s proposals are as important as the method that is, the way in which the region will stand as an organized interlocutor before the EU in order to generate a dynamic bi-regional dialogue. 7. Based on these premises, the consultants made an analysis of the main elements, conclusions and recommendations made in the study, as follows: i. The first section of the study identifies the essential elements that characterize the economic relations of the region s countries with the EU, particularly as regards trade exchanges, foreign direct investments, European cooperation with LAC and

6 Permanent Secretariat of SELA 4 Globalization the status of partnership agreements between the EU and the various countries and subregions in LAC. This section also analyzes the reason why the two regions have not been able to attain their goal of establishing a strategic partnership, as well as the difficulties faced by the summits. ii. The second section of the study lays the foundations for the design of a Latin American and Caribbean strategy as regards economic relations for the upcoming Summit with the EU. Based on the similarities seen in the challenges faced by LAC countries, the study attempts at establishing a socio-economic model that combines efficiency with equity as the main approach for bi-regional relations. Fundamentally, the proposed method consists in creating a cooperative dynamism based on an integral package of principles agreed to by the Heads of State and Government, whose operational modalities would be determined through bi-regional dialogues among top-ranking regional officials, by following a strict schedule to achieve concrete goals from one Summit to the next. iii. The third section presents a series of proposals and concrete actions focused on the issues that potentiate the regional dimension. For this purpose, two plans were proposed. PLAN A consists in reaching a consensus among the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, so as to speak with one voice vis-à-vis the EU in the Vienna Summit and to underscore the need to go from the Washington Consensus to the Vienna Consensus, which entails to achieve growth with equity based on the coherence among three key issues for bi-regional relations: regional integration, trade negotiations and social cohesion. PLAN B would be implemented in case the concrete proposals of PLAN A have to be applied separately and independently. There are six concrete proposals: a) Promote citizens rapprochement. b) Create a dialogue on macroeconomics (improve transparency and governance according to the REDIMA method). c) Dialogue on infrastructure and social policies. d) Identify regional public goods. e) Reinforce the higher education space. f) Start a dialogue on migrations and migrants remittances. 8. During the two sessions, experts made comments on the study: Joaquín Roy, Director of the European Union Center of the University of Miami; Jaime Preciado, professor of the Institute of Ibero-Latin American Studies of the Guadalajara University, in Mexico; Wolf Grabendorf, Director of the Cooperation Program in Regional Security, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Santiago, Chile; and Junior Lodge, Representative of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), in Brussels. 9. Participants in the meeting held a broad debate and exchanged opinions, and the experts and consultants responded to questions. Following are the issues discussed: - The need for Latin America and the Caribbean to adopt common positions so that it can speak with one voice vis-à-vis the European Union was one of the most debated issues during the first working session. In this connection, several delegates pointed out that the economic heterogeneity prevailing in our region as evidenced in the countries dissimilar patterns and interests as regards their

7 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF-06 5 international insertion and relations with Europe represents a serious obstacle for the adoption of common positions. Nevertheless, other delegates stressed that such diversity of interests and economic structures should not be considered as an insurmountable obstacle for the adoption of common positions at the regional level because as evidenced by the EU s experience the recognition of the plurality existing within a region is the first step towards the establishment of common positions and strategies. - In connection with the aforementioned issue, participants held a debate on the need for LAC to strengthen its integration institutions at the subregional level as well as the existing mechanisms for coordination and cooperation in the whole region for that purpose. This is a key step because the adoption of common positions particularly as regards foreign economic policy is an indispensable requirement for progressing towards integration. Moreover, the EU has made progress with subregional integration efforts a sine qua non condition for signing strategic partnership agreements with each one of the region s countries. - During the second session, participants held an interesting debate on the degrees of supranationality that would be necessary for deepening integration efforts, and how this concept is defined from the various points of view on national sovereignty prevailing in the region. Special emphasis was made on examples taken from the European experience, particularly on the fact that the principle of supranationality has been applied in a limited way for certain aspects related to foreign and economic policies, simultaneously with the concept of subsidiarity. At the same time, participants dealt with the concept of shared sovereignty as the basis for understanding the relationship between national sovereignty and integration within the context of a strong institutional framework for integration aimed at making strides in terms of international competitiveness. - Participants also discussed issues concerning the relations between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, as an indispensable complement for the analysis of the strategic relation between LAC and the EU. Participants pointed out that the current status and outlook of the economic relations between the EU and LAC is directly linked to the trends prevailing in the global economy, with strategic considerations that go well beyond a simplistic economic rationale. - Similarly, a debate was held on the various elements that should be borne in mind when Latin America and the Caribbean come down to defining what it called the Vienna Consensus in the base document with the analyses conducted for this meeting within the context of dialogue and cooperation with European countries and, above all, taking into account the experiences gained by the EU in the area of development with social inclusion. In this connection, participants stressed that such consensus should entail deep changes in productive flows, income distribution and foreign economic relations among Latin American and Caribbean countries. - Another issue discussed during the third working session was the scope and contents that the bi-regional dialogue should have. Participants agreed that it should include new economic issues such as the problems posed by the reform of international financial institutions as well as political issues such as security issues and fight against terrorism which are of transcendental importance within the current international context. Participants also underscored various aspects

8 Permanent Secretariat of SELA 6 Globalization that should be taken into consideration for the biennial meetings held by the EU and LAC to actually become a mechanism for appropriate institutional follow-up with a significant impact on the relations between the two regions and on the international scene. - The special characteristics of Caribbean countries relations with the EU were also a subject for discussion during the meeting. Emphasis was made on the fact that these countries have a special interest in making the rest of the nations of the region understand such specific characteristics. At the same time, participants underscored the need to deepen the dialogue between the Caribbean and Latin America in order to overcome any contradictions that there might exist, based on the recognition of the legitimate interests of each one of the parties and the necessary solidarity among the nations of the region, as an indispensable element to continue to build a Latin American and Caribbean identity. 10. Then, the delegations approved the following Summary and Conclusions:

9 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF-06 7 B. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 1. In view of the Vienna Summit, the generation of new impetus to bi-regional relations between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) calls for special efforts on the part of our region, so as to explore and potentiate coherence among the issues of priority. As important as the contents of the Latin American and Caribbean proposals is the way in which the region will stand as an organized interlocutor before the EU in order to generate a dynamic bi-regional dialogue. 1. In the working sessions, participants identified the essential elements characterizing the economic relations of the countries of the region with the EU, particularly as regards trade flows, foreign direct investment, and the status of European cooperation towards Latin America and the Caribbean. Participants also analyzed the status of partnership agreements between the EU and the various countries and sub-regions in LAC. 2. Also, an analysis was conducted about the paradox in bi-regional relations: In spite of their common roots, the two regions have not been able to attain their goal of establishing a strategic partnership. Similarly, an analysis was made of the difficulties faced by the Summits and their potential. 3. Participants at the meeting also discussed the methodological bases to outline a possible Latin American and Caribbean strategy for the upcoming Summit and the midand long-term dialogue with the EU, focusing on the search for a socio-economic model that combines efficiency with equity as the main approach for the Summit. This search is a common challenge for the EU and LAC and offers a broad, mutually beneficial cooperation basis to both regions. 4. The method for holding such dialogue a fundamental aspect on which emphasis was made consists in creating a cooperative dynamism based on an integral package of principles agreed to by the Heads of State and Government, whose operational modalities would be determined through bi-regional dialogues among top-ranking national officials, by following a strict schedule to achieve concrete goals from one Summit to the next. 6. The proposals contained in the document prepared by SELA focused on the following issues, with the purpose of boosting the regional dimension: a) Promote citizens rapprochement. g) Create a macroeconomic dialogue between LAC and the EU (improve transparency and governance according to the REDIMA method). h) Dialogue on infrastructure and social policies. i) Identify regional public goods. j) Reinforce the higher education space. k) Dialogue on migrations and remittances. 7. According to the study conducted by SELA, these issues will allow for reaching a consensus among the countries of LAC, so as to speak with one voice vis-à-vis the EU in the Vienna Summit and to encourage the European Union to help Latin America and the Caribbean to go from the Washington Consensus to the Vienna Consensus. This would entail to achieve growth with equity based on the coherence, in terms of political economy, among the three key issues for bi-regional relations: regional integration, trade negotiations and social cohesion.

10 Permanent Secretariat of SELA 8 Globalization 8. The main aspects on which the debates were focused during the meeting were as follows: a) The viability or possibility to build a Latin American and Caribbean consensus for the dialogue with the EU. In this connection, emphasis was made on the differences in terms of interests and priorities of the various countries and/or subregional groupings, which are at the very basis of the diversity of positions found in our region as regards relations with the EU. Nevertheless, several participants reiterated that building the necessary regional consensus does not imply ignoring the diversity of interests and priorities that may exist in the region. Instead, consensus should be built on the basis of such recognition and, above all, on the common characteristics that identify the Latin American and Caribbean region. b) The varying degrees of priorities that the six issues proposed in the SELA document as the bases for designing a regional strategy vis-à-vis the EU for Latin America and the Caribbean and the European nations. At the same time, as part of the main considerations, mention was made of the fact that it is a clear priority for Latin America and the Caribbean to have its own definition of its identity, incorporating aspects related to the region s geopolitical context, in order to strengthen its relations with third parties, including the EU. c) The convenience of including other areas in the proposals on general issues, particularly: i) the possibility to include the issues of the reforms of international financial institutions and the external debt in the EU-LAC common agenda; ii) underscore the importance of the debates on subjects related to migrations and money remittances in view of their relevance for various countries and sub-regions in LAC and their links with other fundamental aspects in bi-regional relations; and iii) the inclusion of international security issues in the dialogue between the EU and LAC. d) The scope and contents of the proposed Vienna Consensus, so that it will take due account of the priorities and visions of the Latin American and Caribbean region. e) The efforts to build a Latin American and Caribbean consensus in the short, medium and long terms should be regarded as processes, in order to prevent loss of impetus for these tasks beyond the upcoming Vienna Summit. 9. Participants thanked the Permanent Secretariat of SELA for its efforts in conducting this meeting and stressed the importance for SELA to continue with these analyses, along with ECLAC and other regional organizations, so as to allow for a steady exchange of experiences among the Latin American and Caribbean nations with respect to the ongoing negotiations with the EU. 10. In this connection, participants took note with interest of the analysis of the results of the EU-LAC Vienna Summit and the European cooperation strategy for the period , which will be conducted by the Permanent Secretariat this year and will serve as input for the discussions scheduled to take place during the Meeting of International Cooperation Directors for Latin America and the Caribbean, to be held in the city of Antigua, Republic of Guatemala. 11. It was agreed that the Permanent Secretariat of SELA, based on these results, will convene a similar Regional Meeting for follow-up and in-depth analysis of these issues, after the Vienna Summit.

11 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF-06 9 C. CLOSING SESSION 12. In closing the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of SELA, Ambassador Roberto Guarnieri, thanked Member States for their participation in the meeting, as well as the experts, consultants and commentators for their work. Similarly, he pointed out that the meeting demonstrated the importance of promoting coordination and consensus on issues of interest for Latin America and the Caribbean as regards international economic negotiations and relations with third-party countries. With the event, SELA also proved that it can play a major role in outlining possible coordinated positions for the whole region on the international scene, in spite of the differences seen in the Member States international agendas. In this connection, the Ambassador said he was pleased with the success of the meeting and its results, and that the Permanent Secretariat was willing to continue supporting Member States in this area.

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13 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF A N N E X I SPEECH BY AMBASSADOR ROBERTO GUARNIERI, PERMANENT SECRETARY OF SELA

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15 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF We have an excellent base document for this meeting to reach important conclusions and make well-founded recommendations in order to ultimately submit them to authorities in charge of decision-making at the national level. On behalf of the Permanent Secretariat, I would like to express recognition for the conceptually solid and well-documented work conducted by consultants Ghymers and Quenan. The report contains a detailed and carefully thought presentation of policy options and collective actions for Latin American and Caribbean countries to take advantage of bilateral relations, so as to obtain more favourable and satisfactory results for both parties, in accordance with their huge potential. In my opinion, the fact that the present conditions for cooperation and trade exchanges with the European Union are, in general, quite unsatisfactory is unquestionable. This is clearly shown in the study prepared by the consultants particularly in the sections dealing with trade, foreign direct investment and official assistance. And, mostly, in terms of the expectations that emerged during the first bi-regional summits, starting from Without doubt, there have been some important achievements at the bilateral level, particularly in the case of Mexico and Chile. But at the subregional and regional levels results have been frustrating. To varying degrees, this has been the prevailing trend in all of the region s integration schemes. Furthermore, it appears that the more important the subregional scheme is in terms of its economic and demographic dimension, the more difficult it is to make progress as regards comprehensive agreements with the European Union. In this regard, if one tried to assign degrees or make a classification from the bottom up, it would go from CARICOM (Including Dominican Republic) to Central America, the Andean Community and then MERCOSUR. This is certainly not a favourable trend for the newly formed South American Community of Nations. It is rather a very worrisome situation that demands an urgent revision with an open mind and strong political will in order to determine causes and take corrective measures. Should this trend continues, Latin America and the Caribbean, as a block, might become marginalized from the international scene as a relevant actor. Of course, individually, some of the countries of the region will not. That s evident. But from the point of view of the region, and compared with other geographical areas with emerging markets, such as Asia, prospects are now deplorable. Latin America and the Caribbean are already being left behind. For SELA, and for its leader as Permanent Secretary, this is a particularly sad and painful situation. And it is much more so since we often perceive an attitude resembling what is commonly known as benevolent negligence.

16 Permanent Secretariat of SELA 14 Globalization The thing is that Latin America and the Caribbean are missing opportunities, in spite of its enormous potential to effectively coordinate, in a collective fashion, a truly strategic partnership with the European Union, with all its implicit benefits at the individual, subregional, regional and global levels. Naturally, this also causes frustration in Europe, since our region runs the risk of remaining forever as a bloc in formation. I think we still have time to revert this trend and achieve a strong position on the global scene. And since the European Union is, of course, a key actor in the international milieu, it is absolutely necessary for our region to achieve a truly strategic partnership with a longterm vision with the EU. However, based on my experience at the Permanent Secretariat over the last two years, I see no cause for much optimism in this regard. For reasons I frankly cannot understand, more often than not the political statements made at the highest level on the issue of Latin American economic integration seem to fail to give rise to the corresponding instrumental decisions. On the contrary, the discrepancies and inconsistencies between the stated goals and the reality seem to become increasingly stronger. There are widely recognized and clearly defined elements as regards what must be done: It is indispensable to make strides towards broad regional integration by strengthening subregional schemes, while promoting their eventual merging and convergence. But it is clear that the problem of asymmetries is an obstacle that will continue to hinder such progress while their adverse impact on the effective distribution of the benefits stemming from market opening-up are not compensated in a sufficient way. Nevertheless, in comparison with the magnitude of the effects of any type of asymmetries hindering or slowing down the process towards a single market, the resources earmarked to solve this problem turn out to be meagre and the issue is actually given secondary priority on the agendas of integration organizations. On the other hand, it is clear or it should be clear that it is necessary to join efforts in order to start a systematic process to gradually transfer national sovereignty in critical collective governance areas to supranational institutions, in accordance with the complexity and transcendence of regional and subregional integration processes. But then again in this area such recognition in the best of cases is also merely rhetorical. Furthermore, it is more than evident that a sustained economic integration process has to be based on a substantial reduction of poverty and increasingly higher levels of social inclusion. There are some remarkable successful national cases which deserve recognition, but in general and collectively there are still inconsistencies between the urgency and importance of such goal and the amount of resources earmarked for pursuing it in and effective way.

17 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF We also know that a sustained economic integration process requires close coordination and harmonization of macroeconomic and social policies and goals, monitoring and regulation mechanisms, as well as regulatory parity, among other things. But also in this connection the achievements made are minimal; particularly as regards the countries willingness to assume commitments with the programs for convergence of fundamental objectives. Finally, we know that if we really want to establish a truly strategic partnership with the European Union, we need to undertake programs for institutional strengthening to ensure predictability, transparency, efficiency and equity in terms of national and collective governance I d wish I could also say supranational regardless of ideological considerations. Therefore, greater priority should be given to these programs, for which I am sure we could count with Europe s contribution. Unfortunately, there is also considerable backwardness in this area. Thus, Latin American and Caribbean governments as well as the relevant subregional and regional organizations face an enormous responsibility in the present circumstances, particularly vis-à-vis the upcoming Vienna Summit. At the Permanent Secretariat of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System we are trying to make every possible effort amid the tremendous financial and general constraints that we face. The issues I have mentioned are given top priority in our Work Programme and we have submitted to the governments of our Member States the pertinent studies especially during this type of events, which are held at our headquarters. In spite of everything, I am basically optimistic. The quality of the documents submitted today at this meeting and the large number of participants encourage me to be even more optimistic.

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19 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF A N N E X I I WORK PROGRAMME

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21 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF Monday, 13 March Morning 09:00 a.m. 09:30 a.m. Registration 09:30 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Opening Session 10:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Break Opening speech by the Permanent Secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System, Ambassador Roberto Guarnieri 10:30 a.m. 11:130 a.m. Session I 11:30 a.m. 12:30 a.m. Debate Afternoon 02:30 p.m. 03:30 p.m. Session II Moderator: Dr. Antonio Romero, Coordinator of Relations with Regional and Extra-regional Organizations, Permanent Secretariat of SELA Submission of the document Current Status and prospects of economic relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean Dr. Christian Ghymers, Chief Expert, European Commission Dr. Carlos Quenan, Professor, Institut des Hautes Etudes D Amerique Latine, Sorbonne University Moderator: Dr. Wolf Grabendorff, Director of the Cooperation Program in Regional Security, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Santiago, Chile. Remarks and proposals on the subject: Dr. Joaquín Roy, Director of the European Union Center, Miami University (USA) Dr. Jaime Preciado, Institute of Ibero-Latin American Studies, Guadalajara University (Mexico)

22 Permanent Secretariat of SELA 20 Globalization 03:30 p.m. 03:50 p.m. Break 03:50 p.m. 05:00 p.m. Debate Tuesday, 14 March Morning 09:30 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Session III 10:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Break 10:45 a.m. 12:30 a.m. Debate Moderator: Dr. Jaime Preciado, Institute of Ibero-Latin American Studies, Guadalajara University (Mexico). Remarks and proposals on the subject: Dr. Wolf Grabendorff, Director of the Cooperation Program in Regional Security, Friedrich Ebert Foundation, Santiago, Chile. Dr. Junior Lodge, Representative of the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), Brussels. 12:30 p.m. 01:30 p.m. Discussion and approval of the Summary and Conclusions of the Meeting 01:30 p.m. Cocktail

23 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF A N N E X I I I LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

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25 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF ARGENTINA Fabián Oddone Counsellor Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Venezuela Tel: (58212) Fax: (58212) BARBADOS Yvette Goddard Counsellor Embassy of Barbados in Brussels Belgium Tel: (322) Fax: (322) Philip St. Hill Counsellor Embassy of Barbados in Venezuela Tel: (58212) 991,6721 Fax: (58212) BOLIVIA Freddy Abastoflor Córdova Charge d Affaires a.i. Embassy of Bolivia in Venezuela Tel: (58212) / Fax: fabastoflor@hotmail.it Web page: Miguel Velarde Cultural Attaché Embassy of Bolivia in Venezuela Tel: (58212) / embabolivianaven@hotmail.com COLOMBIA Luis Alberto Lobo Plenipotentiary Minister Embassy of Colombia in Venezuela Tel: (58212) mincol@net-uno.net Sergio Suárez Roa First Secretary Embassy of Colombia in Venezuela Tel: (58212) x colombia@net-uno.net pscol@net-uno.net CUBA Marcos Nieto Lara Counsellor Minister Embassy of Cuba in Venezuela Tel: (58212) conseconomico@cantv.net ECUADOR Santiago Chávez Charge d Affaires a.i. Embassy of Ecuador in Venezuela Tel: (58212) / embajadaecuador@cantv.net Sandro Celi Omaza Counsellor Embassy of Ecuador in Venezuela Tel: (58212) / embaecuador@cantv.net Web page:

26 Permanent Secretariat of SELA 24 Globalization GUATEMALA Irma Verónica Araujo Samayoa Counsellor Minister Embassy of Guatemala in Venezuela Tel: (58212) HAITI Yves Rody Jean Charge d Affaires Embassy of Haiti in Venezuela Tel: (58212) Fax: ivrodijan@yahoo.fr ambahaitivenezuela@yahoo.com JAMAICA Renata McGregor Counsellor Embassy of Jamaica in Venezuela Tel: (58212) / 6133 Fax: embjaven@cantv.net MEXICO Antonio Pérez Manzano Minister in charge of Economic Affairs and SELA Embassy of Mexico in Venezuela Tel. (58212) mexico@embamex.com.ve / aperez@embamex.com.ve PANAMA Cecilio Simón Chargé d Affaires Embassy of Panama in Venezuela Tel: (58212) csimon@cnpanama.net PARAGUAY Enrique Jara Ocampos Minister Embassy of Paraguay in Venezuela Tel: (58212) Fax: / embaparven@cantv.net PERU Edwin L. Gutiérrez Padrón Minister Embassy of Peru in Venezuela Tel. (58212) embaperu128@cantv.net DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Alba Yris Rodríguez de Blair Counsellor Minister In charge of the Division for Summits of the State Secretariat for Foreign Affairs of Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Tel: (809) Ext Fax: (809) arodriguez@serex.gov.do Gustavo Wiese Delgado Counsellor Minister Embassy of Dominican Republic in Venezuela Tel: (58212) gwiese@cantv.net Félix Bolívar Amézquita Counsellor Minister Embassy of Dominican Republic in Venezuela Tel: (58212) / 9524 / amezquitafelix@hotmail.com

27 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF SURINAME Hargwatie Maikoe Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paramaribo, Suriname Tel: (597) Fax: / jenny_maikoe@yahoo.com Nesta Zeewijk Financial Attaché Embassy of Suriname in Venezuela Tel: (58212) embsur1@cantv.net; embsur2@cantv.net TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Bruce Lai Consul Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago in Venezuela Tel: (58212) embassytt@cantv.net BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA Sohail Hernández Parra General Director of Economy and International Cooperation Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tel: (58212) economia.cooperacioninternacional@mre.g ob.ve sohailhep@gmail.com Karlín J. Granadillos Ramírez Head of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tel: (58212) Fax: (58212) kjgranadillo@gmail.com Ricardo Salas Castillo First Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tel: (58212) Fax: (58212) Suraya Tayrouz Official Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tel: (58212) surayath@yahoo.es Bárbara Bravo Foreign Trade Adviser Minister of Light Industry and Trade Final Avda. Lecuna, Parque Central Torre Oeste, Piso 13 Vice Ministry of Foreign Trade Tel. (58212) barbara_bravo26@yahoo.es barbara_bravo26@yahoo.es CONSULTANTS Carlos Quenan Institut des Hautes Etudes D Amerique Latine Sorbonne University Nouvelle Paris, 3 France Tel: (33-1) Home: (331) Cell phone: (336) quenan@wanadoo.fr Christian Ghymers Consultant European Commission Brussels, Belgium Tel: (32-2) (Home) Tel: (32-2) (Office) christian.ghymers@cec.eu.int

28 Permanent Secretariat of SELA 26 Globalization EXPERTS Wolf Grabendorff Director of the Cooperation Program in Regional Security, Friedrich Ebert Foundation Av. Providencia 2653, Ofic. 805 Edificio Forum Santiago, Chile Tel: (562) Fax: (562) Web Page: Joaquín Roy Jean Monnet Professor Director, European Union Center Ferre Building University of Miami Coral Gables, Fl Tel: (305) Fax: Jaime Antonio Preciado Coronado Institute of Ibero-Latin American Studies of the Guadalajara University Nueva Escocia 1644, Col. Providencia Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Tel: (5233) y Fax: (5233) japreco@megored.com.mx ORGANIZATIONS CARIBBEAN REGIONAL NEGOTIATING MACHINERY (CRNM) Junior Lodge Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery Brussels Representative Rue du Prince Royal Brussels Tel: (32-2) Cell phone: (32-49) junior.lodge@crnm.org Web page: ECLAC Mario Ernesto Báez Báez Head of the Unit for Project Management Division for Program Planning and Operations Santiago, Chile Tel: (562) mbaez@eclac.cl Web page: ANDEAN COMMUNITY Luz María Ramírez Zuluaga Consultant, Common Foreign Policy Av. Paseo de la República 3895 Lima, Peru Tel: (511) lramirez@comunidadandina.org Web page: EUROPEAN COMMISSION David Douanchant Official Tel. (5212) GUESTS Maximiliano Canonica Embassy of Switzerland in Venezuela Tel: (58212) maximiliano.canonica@eda.admin.ch Web page: Amelia Adriana Marín Herrera Second Secretary Pedro Gual Institute for Higher Diplomatic Studies Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tel: (58212) Fax: adriana.marin@mre.gob.ve amcdmar@hotmail.com

29 Final Report on the Regional Meeting on Economic Relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean SP/RR-REUE-ALC/IF Xavier Quintero Economic Consultant Av. Francisco de Miranda Edif. CAVENDES, Piso 5, Ofic. 509 Los Palos Grandes Tel. (5212) / 86 Fax: xquintero@cantv.net Nora Heinonen Second Secretary Embassy of Finland Edif. Atrium, Piso 1, Calle Sorocaima, El Rosal, Tel: (58212) Fax: nora.heinonen@formin.fi PERMANENT SECRETARIAT (SELA) Roberto Guarnieri Permanent Secretary Avda. Francisco de Miranda Torre Europa, 4 Piso Campo Alegre, Venezuela Tel: (58-212) Saadia Sánchez Director of the Information and Knowledge Network Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre Europa, 4 Piso Campo Alegre, Venezuela Tel: (58-212) ssanchez@sela.org Antonio F. Romero Coordinator of Relations with Regional and Extra-regional Organizations Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre Europa, 4 Piso Campo Alegre, Venezuela Tel: (58-212) aromero@sela.org Carmen Gabriela Menéndez Coordinator of Relations with Member States Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre Europa, 4 Piso Campo Alegre, Venezuela Tel: (58-212) Telasco Pulgar Expert on Studies and Proposals Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre Europa, 4 Piso Campo Alegre, Venezuela Tel: (58-212) tpulgar@sela.org Fernando Guglielmelli Head of the Office of the Permanent Secretary Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre Europa, 4 Piso Campo Alegre, Venezuela Tel: (58-212) fguglielmelli@sela.org Alicia Borga Analyst of Studies and Proposals Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre Europa, 4 Piso Campo Alegre, Venezuela Tel: (58-212) aborga@sela.org Cora Romero Travel and Arrangements Official Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre Europa, 4 Piso Campo Alegre, Venezuela Tel: (58-212) cromero@sela.org Zenaida Lugo Press Official Av. Francisco de Miranda Torre Europa, 4 Piso Campo Alegre, Venezuela Tel: (58-212) zlugo@sela.org

30 Permanent Secretariat of SELA 28 Globalization