European Union (EU) and Latin American leaders are gathering for a summit on Monday, marking their first reunion after eight years. The summit will foster the rekindling of old alliances remains high.
Several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Brazil’s three-year absence from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), a 33-nation bloc, have contributed to making the relations between the two regions seem more distant.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed the importance of unity in these unpredictable times, remarking on how much the world has evolved since their last meeting. Yet, uncertainty continues to loom over the two-day summit.
The assembly is marked by disagreements on a range of issues, including the Ukrainian conflict involving Russia, trade disputes, deforestation, and the question of slavery reparations. The success of the summit may now hinge on whether the participants can agree to convene more regularly moving forward.
EU has admitted its part in the distance increase between the regions. Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, who represents the EU’s current presidency, criticizes Europe’s years of neglect towards the Latin American region, which is arguably the most Europe-compatible.
European connections with the Americas go back centuries, often linked to colonial exploitation and slavery. Even post-independence, trade relations were viewed as primarily beneficial to Europeans.
In a preliminary discussion with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, von der Leyen emphasized the need to “de-risk” their economies, which in EU terminology implies reducing dependency on Beijing to prevent potential foreign control through substantial investment.
President Lula, in turn, expressed his desire for Brazil to share its economic growth and progress with EU partners as the country continues to develop.
