REUNIONES CELEBRADAS EN EL MARCO DE LA III CUMBRE ALC-AMÉRICA LATINA Y EL CARIBE

1. Seminar and Working Group on Social Cohesion in Latin America and the Caribbean

On 5-7 June, 2003 a Seminar on Social Cohesion took place in Brussels, Belgium followed by two Working Groups meetings on 15 October in Mexico City and on 2-3 February, 2000 again in Brussels. The three were organized and convened by the European Commission and the Inter American Development Bank (IDB) in order to asses progress made by the strategic association between the EU and LAC since the Madrid Summit and to formulate concrete proposals on the political axis to address the challenges of poverty and inequity by means of the adoption of a Social Cohesion Agenda.

2. First meeting of the EU – LAC university networks: towards a strategic association

The first meeting of the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean university networks took place on 12 November, 2003 in Veracruz and was convened by the Ministry of Public Education of Mexico. The objectives were to acknowledge the thematic and educational institutions networks as the most effective means to construct a Higher Education Common Space between the UE and LAC. Also the meeting stated some specific recommendations for both regions to join efforts and to make best use of resources and prevent duplicity.

3. Seminar: political and parliamentary contributions to the III EU – LAC Summit

A Seminar on the political and parliamentary contributions to the Guadalajara Summit was held on the 15th and 16th January, 2004 in Santiago, Chile and was organized by the Latin American Centre for Relations with Europe (CELARE). Members of Parliament and leaders of political parties of Latin America pertaining to the Christian Democrat Organization of America (ODCA), the Committee for the International Socialist for Latin America and the Caribbean (SICLAC), the Latin American Parties Union (UPLA) and the directors of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino) got together to reflect and provide the views of the political parties and their parliamentary representatives regarding the key issues and priorities of the Guadalajara Summit by taking into account that summits are the highest level mechanism for political agreement and to reduce asymmetries between the two regions.

4. Euro-Latin American meeting on Hydrogen Civilization

On 17th February, 2004 took place in Rome the Euro-Latin American Meeting on Hydrogen Civilization, organized by the Italo-Latin American Institute. The participants worked on the prospective of the growing scarcity of hydrocarbons. They analyzed different substitution possibilities and concluded that the use of hydrogen as a fuel and energy transmitter is a reliable solution. They underlined the importance to achieve an agreement between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean based in a long-term vision, in a research system together with the establishment of an action plan that allows the access to the hydrogen civilization.

5. Meeting between the European Union and the Latin American and Caribbean countries on Migration

On March, 4 and 5, 2004, the representatives of the European Union and of the Latin American and Caribbean countries met in Quito, Ecuador to discuss migration issues. The meeting was cochaired by the Under Secretary for Migration and Consular Affairs of Ecuador, Mr. Héctor Hugo Falconí and by Mr. Peter E. Smyth (President of the Council of the European Union – Ireland), Chairperson of the High Level Working Group on Asylum and Migration.

6. Latin American and Caribbean Parliamentarian Meeting with the European Parliament

On March 16-18, 2004, Puebla, Mexico the Latin American and Caribbean Parliamentarian Meeting with the European Parliament took place. 120 representatives of the European Parliament, from the Parlatino, Parlacen, Parlandino, Mercosur Parliament and the Mexican Congress adopted a document: Parliamentarian proposals on integration for an Strategic Bi-regional Association EULAC. The key proposals are as follows: 1) strengthen the association institutional mechanisms, 2) establish an Euro Latin American Letter for Peace and Security, 3) expand the bi-regional political agenda, 4) create an Euro Latino American free trade zone, 5) adopt a model compatible with “WTO-regionalism”, 6) a new and more generous development policy towards Latin America, 7) create a Bi-regional Solidarity Fund as a concrete contribution to social cohesion, 8) an altogether drive towards regional integration process in Latin America, 9) a decisively contribution to infrastructure integration, and 10) search for a constructive and effective dialog on migration issues.

7. Meeting on bi-regional EU-LAC cooperation

On March, 18 and19, 2004, the Meeting on Bi-regional EU-LAC Cooperation took place in San José, summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship from the Government of Costa Rica and the European Commission. The main goals of the Meeting were to analyze the bi-regional cooperation and consolidate a mechanism to present bi-regional co-operation projects and to create an Internet site. The participants agreed that there has been progress on defining bi-regional criteria and on the definition of general themes of common interest.

8. Conference on the European Union-Latin –America local partnerships

The conference Balance and perspectives of decentralized cooperation on urban policies between collectivities in the European Union and Latin America was held in Valparaiso, Chile on March 22- 24, 2004, under the framework of the URBAL program. The main goal of the Conference was to make a balance of the achievements, limitations and perspectives on cooperation for local urban development. Sixty experts, observers, participants involved in projects and organizers discussed three key subjects: 1) the balance of decentralized cooperation and its impact on the town, 2) the administration of decentralized cooperation, and 3) the impact of decentralized cooperation on social cohesion, regional integration and democratic governance. In the Valparaiso Declaration, the participants stated the importance to continue and deepen the URBAL Program, and to drive cooperation towards the strengthening of local government actions in the fields of social cohesion and regional integration.

9. II Euro Latin American-Caribbean Civil Society Forum

On March 24-26, 2004, civil society organizations and NGOs met in Pátzcuaro,  Michoacán, Mexico, to analyze and assess the effectiveness of the existing instruments of the bi-regional relation. The II Euro Latinamerican-Caribbean Civil Society Forum: “For a European Union-Latin America and the Caribbean Association that promotes economic cohesion with social justice and equity”, was organized by ALOP, DECA-Equipo Pueblo, CEAAL, MCD, Eurostep, Grupo Sur europeo, CordAid, Hivos, ICCO and Nopvib, and more than 75 organizations from 25 countries participated. The main goal of the Forum was to formulate proposals and suggestions on the approach to the topics of the III EU-LAC Summit’s Agenda. Secondly, they searched for alliances between organizations in both regions and to define advocacy strategies as well. The final declaration outlines that the Bi-regional Strategic Association needs to bare in mind the economic and social asymmetries prevailing in both regions. It suggests the development of a Bi-regional Solidarity Fund, which promotes social equity and productive transformation. It also draws the attention on the need of co responsible participation of civil society in international agreements, with effective and clear mechanisms that assert the observatory, monitory and consulting status for Civil Society Organizations in the process.

10. II Academic Forum on the future relation European Union vis-à-vis Latin America and the Caribbean.

The European Community Studies Association (ECSA) together with the Friederich Ebert Foundation, organized a meeting in Mexico City on the 30-31 March, 2004, entitled: The 2004 Guadalajara Summit, a historical alliance or a strategic association between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean? Academics of different Latin American and European countries worked on the following key subjects: social cohesion, multilateralism and regional integration. They highlight the following suggestions: 1) to strengthen multilateralism in the world’s decision making and in the improvement of quality life through international cooperation. 2) to enhance social cohesion in Lat in America and the Caribbean in order to reduce poverty and achieve a significant social equity. 3) to promote regional and sub regional political, economic and social integration in Latin America and the Caribbean.

11. The Bologna Process Workshop (Common Space for Higher Education)

On March 30 and April 1, 2004, the Bologna Process Workshop took place at the Lovaina Catholic University; in regards to the opportunities for cooperation between European and Latin American universities to improve higher education and on build a Common Space for Higher Education. Members of the CINDA, COIMBRA and COLUMBUS university networks participated in the workshop, as well as other academics actively involved in linking Latin American and European Universities. They worked on the following topics: credits and academic mobility, accreditation and assessment of quality, research and doctoral studies, as well as cooperation. The participants committed to deepen the actions that allow cooperation and call upon other networks and universities to join into the process. They requested sufficient resource assignment, in order to complete these initiatives and summoned the Heads of State gathered in Guadalajara to make possible the permanent constitution of the Europe-Latin America-Caribbean Common Space for Higher Education.

12. Seminar on Cultural Industries and Sustainable Development

On April, 1 and 2, 2004, Mexico City hosted the Seminar on Cultural Industries and Sustainable Development, was organized by the National Council for Culture and the Arts from Mexico (CONACULTA) and the Ibero American States Organization (ISO). The key goal of the Seminar was to establish an up -to date diagnosis for each sector of cultural industries, in order to develop a strategic cooperation process for the following years. Experts on cultural industries, cultural officers, Congress representatives, entrepreneurs and members of publishing and film chambers of both regions discussed on legislation and cultural policies in editorial, audiovisual, phonographic industries and in other new information technologies.

13. III Forum on European Union-Latin America and the Caribbean Organized Civil Society (Economic and Social Councils Meeting)

On April 12 -16, 2004 the III Forum on European Union -Latin America and the Caribbean Organized Civil Society (Economic and Social Councils Meeting) took place in Mexico City, with the participation of the European Union Economic and Social Council, as well as their Latin American and Caribbean counterparts. The Forum’s main goals were: a) to generate a discussion on social cohesion, b) to strengthen the social organizations as consultative institutions, and c) to link with the respective social organizations in order to allow the conformation of a permanent instrument of social participation. The Mexico’s Declaration adopted during the forum stands for an agenda and institutions that favor social cohesion, economic growth and development in the frame of regional integration; for the development of actions for the most vulnerable, to reduce the inequities through education, the access to essential services and the elimination of discrimination; for a structured labor market; for the European Community support in order to strengthen the civil society institutions and their commitment with social cohesion.

14. European Union – Latin America and the Caribbean Trade Union Summit

On April 16, 2004 representatives from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), the World Confederation of Labor (WCL), European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), Inter American Regional Organization of Workers (ICFTU-ORIT) and the Latin American Confederation of Workers (CLAT) held the Second EU- LAC Trade Union Summit. In their final declaration they claim that consultative institutions with initiative capacity be set in those countries where there are none, similar to the Latin American Economic and Social Council (CESLAC) to deal with social cohesion, where regional organization can take part and establish links with the European Economic and Social Council (EESC).

15. Symposium: Latin America and an enlarged Europe: a challenge for a new alliance

The symposium took place between 18 – 20 April in Trieste and was convened by the Italian – Latin American Institute (IILA) and the Italy Latin America Network (RIAL) and sponsored by the ministries of Foreign Relations and Productive Activities of Italy. Participants from the universities of Trieste and “Luigi Bocconi ” from Milan, as well as various Chambers of Commerce and other organizations, discussed the following topics: 1) the III EU-LAC Summit, 2) the EU – Mercosur Agreement, 3) the opportunity to create a Euro – Latin American Parliament, 4) the economic exchanges between both regions, 5) new forms of the EU- LAC strategic partnership, 6) the economic implications for LAC of the UE enlargement. 7) migration flows between Latin America and Europe, 8) the enhancement of education in Latin America. The symposium adopted the Trieste Declaration concerning new forms to develop the EU- LAC strategic partnership.