The EESC and Latin America

The EESC and Latin America European Comité économique Economic and et social Social Committee européen

EESC-Latin America relations Relations between the EESC and Latin America have represented an important aspect of the work of the Section for External Relations for more than 10 years. The EESC s work with Latin America is pursued within the framework of the EU s policies regarding the region. In practical terms, the EU-Latin America-Caribbean Bi-regional Strategic Partnership, unveiled by the European Commission in 2006, and the negotiations for Association Agreements with Central America, Mercosur and the Andean Community, have prompted a parallel increase in work by organised civil society on both sides to accompany these relations. In part thanks to the EESC s efforts, the more robust structures built up by economic, social and civil society organisations in Latin America has led to relations between civil society on both continents being deepened and put on a more regular footing. Brussels, 2008 The EESC and the Mercosur Economic and Social Consultative Forum celebrate the 10th anniversary of their relations

The EESC s objectives in its relations with Latin America Regarding the association agreements: To help reinforce the Bi-regional Strategic Partnership between the EU and Latin America, and in particular to help achieve the objectives of strengthening regional integration and social cohesion in Latin America To ensure effective follow-up, by institutions and organisations representing civil society in Latin America, of the negotiations on the association agreements between the EU and Mercosur, the Andean Community and Central America To ensure the involvement of organised civil society in current and future association agreements between the EU and the countries and regions of Latin America, by setting up civil society joint consultative committees (JCC) To promote the social, labour and environmental dimensions in the agreements that the EU is negotiating with the various Latin American regions. To set up joint civil society bodies, in addition to the joint consultative committees under the association agreements, such as the EU- Brazil civil society round table To serve as an intermediary between Latin American consultative organisations and bodies on the one hand, and the Community institutions involved in EU policy with Latin America on the other: the European Commission, the Council and the European Parliament To promote the achievement of the objectives set down in the Declarations of the Meetings of EU-Latin American- Caribbean civil society organisations. Relations between the EESC and Latin America are coordinated by a permanent body of the EESC s Section for External Relations, the Latin America Follow-up Committee, made up of 12 members and with a mandate renewed every two years. In the general framework of relations between the civil societies of the two continents To strengthen participatory democracy and dialogue between civil society organisations in the EU and Latin America To assist its Latin American counterparts by putting its consultative experience at their disposal, providing assistance in capacitybuilding, advising on projects that are cofinanced by the EU, and promoting studies and publications of common interest

The President of Brazil, Mr Lula da Silva, receives the EESC at a private audience Brasilia, 2007 The EESC s partners in Latin America The EESC maintains regular relations with a number of regional or national partner organisations in Latin America. For this purpose, it has signed cooperation protocols with the following: The Mercosur Economic and Social Consultative Forum FCES represents the economic and social sectors, and the various interests, of the Mercosur States Parties. It was set up by the Ouro Preto Protocol in 1994 as the consultative body of the regional integration process. It is the EESC s longest-standing partner: relations between the two bodies date back to 1997. The Consultative Committee of the Central American Integration System (CC-SICA) is the civil society advisory body of Central America, set up in 1996 by the Tegucigalpa Protocol. It comprises representatives from a wide range of sectors: employers, workers, academia, women, indigenous groups, communities of African descent and others. The Andean Business Consultative Council (CCEA), the Indigenous Peoples Consultative Council, the Andean Consumers Organisation and the Andean Labour Consultative Council (CCLA) are consultative institutions of the Andean Integration System, representing various sectors of Andean civil society. The Council for Economic and Social Development (CDES) has been the EESC s national-level partner in Brazil since its inception in 2003. These links are based on a memorandum of understanding between the two institutions signed in 2003, and were fully implemented with the establishment of an EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table as part of the 2007 Strategic Partnership between the EU and Brazil. The EESC is also working with civil society organisations in Mexico and Chile in order to promote the establishment of economic and social councils in these two countries.

The EESC s activities concerning Latin America The EESC carries out its work on Latin America in several ways: Interinstitutional relations within the EU The EESC is engaged in a permanent dialogue with the European institutions responsible for relations with Latin America. It holds regular meetings with the European Commission s Directorates General for External Relations and Trade in order to monitor the negotiations on the association agreements with the various regions and countries of Latin America. The EESC s opinions on EU-Latin America relations are forwarded to the European institutions, the Latin American political authorities and consultative bodies and civil society organisations in Latin America and the EU. As an EU consultative body, the EESC also attends the meetings of the joint EU-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly («EuroLat») as an observer, and regularly involves representatives of the EU Council Presidency in the Latin America-related events it organises. EU-Latin America and Caribbean Meetings At the request of the European Commission, since 1999 the EESC has organised meetings of EU, Latin American and Caribbean civil society organisations every two years. These meetings contribute to a stronger dialogue between civil society representatives of both regions, and to promote the consultative function and the concept of participatory democracy in the countries of Latin America. They also provide an opportunity for civil society recommendations on the issues discussed at the two-yearly Summits of Heads of State and Government of the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean to be presented in the form of a Final Declaration, agreed by all the participants. The final declarations of these meetings also formulate proposals to facilitate the EU External Relations Commissioner, Ms Ferrero-Waldner, accompanied by EESC President, Ms Sigmund, at the conclusion of the 4th meeting of EU-Latin America and Caribbean civil society organisations Vienna, 2006

5th meeting of EU-Latin America and Caribbean civil society organisations Lima, Peru, 16-18 April 2008 consolidation of civil society organisations in all the regions and countries of Latin America, and to introduce or strengthen structures for dialogue and consultation between civil society representatives, and between these and their political authorities. Attendance by the EESC President at Summits of EU-LAC Heads of State Since 2004, the EESC President has been invited to attend the Summits of EU-Latin America- Caribbean Heads of State and Government, held every two years. In this way, the President conveys the views expressed in the successive final declarations of the EU-LAC organised civil society meetings to the participants at the Summit. Bilateral meetings In connection with its aim of assisting its Latin American partners by sharing with them its experience of the consultative function, the EESC regularly receives Latin American civil society delegations in Brussels. The EESC also visits Latin America regularly in order to gain an in-depth knowledge of the political, economic and social situation in the partner countries and regions, and to pool experience on how civil society organisations are consulted and informed. These missions can be of a fact-finding nature, or can entail more formal exchanges in the form, for example, of joint seminars on matters of common interest.

The EESC s opinions on Latin America In its opinions on Latin America, the EESC attaches particular importance to the need to build up civil society organisations and to introduce participatory democracy. Exploratory opinions requested by the European Commission, such as that on social cohesion in LAC, enable the EESC to contribute to specific areas of the EU s policies towards the region. EESC opinions also make recommendations concerning the joint follow-up by the relevant consultative bodies of relations between the EU and the countries and regions of Latin America with which association agreements (Mexico, Chile, Mercosur, the Andean Community and Central America) or strategic partnerships (EU-Brazil Round Table) have been concluded or are being negotiated. The EESC has adopted the following opinions on Latin America in recent years: Promotion of socio-economic aspects in EU-Latin America relations, 17 February 2010 EU-Brazil relations, 22 October 2008 EU-Central America Relations, 12 July 2007 EU-Andean Community relations, 5 July 2006 Promoting the strategic bi-regional European Union-Latin America and Caribbean partnership, encouraging social cohesion and strengthening the involvement of organised civil society, 27 March 2006 EU-Mexico relations, 15 February 2006 Social cohesion in Latin America and the Caribbean, 25 February 2004 Repercussions of the Free Trade Area of the Americas Agreement, 25 February 2004. Latin America civil society links The EESC and Latin America http://www.eesc.europa.eu/sections/rex/la/index_en.asp?id=4020rexen Mercosur FCES http://www.mercosur.int CC-SICA http://www.ccsica.org CCEA http://www.comunidadandina.org/sai/estructura_18.html CCLA http://www.comunidadandina.org/sai/estructura_19.html CDES of Brazil http://www.cdes.gov.br

For further information, please contact: ue-alc@eesc.europa.eu Fax +32 25468241 Comité European économique Economic and et social Social européen Committee Rue Belliard 99 / Belliardstraat 99 1040 Bruxelles / Brussel BELGIQUE / BELGIË Tel. +32 25469604 Fax +32 25469764 Catalogue No.: CESE-2010-02-EN www.eesc.europa.eu EN In 2009, the EESC was awarded the prestigious «Ecodynamic Enterprise» label by the Brussels Institute for Management of the Environment (IBGE), obtaining 3 stars, the highest level possible. This label rewards organisations for good environmental performance. QE-80-10-279-EN-C 10.2864/27964