The Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Pilar Cancela, claimed the need for a “new impetus” in the relationship between the European Union and the countries of Latin America, considering it “a mistake” not to give the region the importance it deserves, ensuring that the Government will work to achieve it.

She cancels participated in the discussion ‘International associations: Europe-Latin America’ organized by the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB), where she pointed out that Spain has been defending a new impetus in relations. However, she acknowledged that “the complicity of the rest of the partner countries and the European institutions” is needed.

Cancela explained that the Government is striving to highlight the importance of this region, with which values ​​are shared, and the “game on the global geopolitical chessboard.” Thus, although he has said that he understands that the focus is on Africa, he has maintained that this is not “incompatible” with also paying attention to Latin America.

“We are not going to stop placing it that way, it is a mistake that they do not do it in Europe,” she added. In the Secretary of State’s opinion, Spain’s rotating Presidency of the EU in the second half of 2023 will be “an enormous opportunity” to focus on this issue.

Agreements between the European Union and Mercosur

The director for the Americas of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Javier Niño, also laments the “strategic blindness” on the part of the EU, since “eurocompatibility” is in Latin America. In addition, he considers that the time has come for the EU to close the agreement with Mercosur, Mexico and Chile.

In addition, he pointed out the need to intensify “high-level commitments” by the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von del Leyen, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the High Representative for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell.

The new head of the SEGIB, Andrés Allamand, supported the proposal made by the person in charge of the SEAE on the importance of closing the agreements instead of “eternalizing them in a drawer”. In his opinion, both regions must establish an “agenda” to strengthen their relations and see what they can do together on the international scene.

Source: dpa

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