European Union and ECLAC Discuss Deepening of Bilateral Cooperation in Brussels

Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the UN regional organization, held a meeting in Brussels, Belgium.

Federica Mogherini, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Alicia Bárcena, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), discussed the deepening of bi-regional cooperation during a meeting held in Brussels, Belgium today.

At the meeting, both representatives talked about the economic situation in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the uncertainties posed by the global economy.

They also explored the different channels for joint cooperation and shared broad and comprehensive regional visions.

Also participating in the event were Enrico Petrocelli, member of Federica Mogherini’s cabinet; Mario Cimoli, ECLAC Deputy Executive Secretary a.i., and Edita Hrdá, Director of the Second Round of Negotiations for Modernization of the EU-Chile Agreement.

During the meeting, ECLAC’s Executive Secretary recalled the long-standing strategic alliance between the European Union and the UN regional Commission, with a view toward supporting bi-regional dialogue and cooperation, particularly in light of the challenges posed by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In this sense, she underscored the recent achievements of that strategic alliance, including the successful implementation of the EUROsociAL program (2012-2015) and the Alliance for the Information Society – @LIS (2001-2013).

She also praised the project Social Innovation: Engine for Social Change (2014-2017) and the LEARN - Leaders Activating Research Networks (2015-2017) initiative.

Currently in course is the project Better Policies for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in Latin America (2015-2020), with work being done on EUROCLIMA+, the second part of the Regional Cooperation Programme between the European Union and the 18 countries of Latin America focused on climate change, the first stage of which was completed between 2010-2017.

Alicia Bárcena invited the EU High Representative to follow the work the countries of the region will do leading up to the Second Meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, to be held April 16-20 in Santiago, Chile; as well as ECLAC’s 37th Period of Sessions, scheduled for May 7-11 in Havana, Cuba.

She also underscored the activities prepared for the commemoration of ECLAC’s 70th anniversary, which will be celebrated throughout 2018.

Finally, both officials agreed to continue working and collaborating to deepen relations between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate on a new Summit between the European Bloc and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).