The summit meeting between the 33 countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union was held with flags at half-mast. In terms of the size of the attendee list, we’re talking about failure. Of the 60 leaders convened, barely a dozen of them were on the Latin American side, with only Brazilian Lula and Colombian organizer Gustavo Petro. Given the challenges of this event, including a recalcitrant President Donald Trump putting pressure on Latin American countries, an intercontinental summit competing with four other major summits to be held in the same month, and political tensions on both sides of the Atlantic, the simple fact that this event was held two years after the last one (2023, in Brussels) is a victory over adversity. It’s been 8 years since the last time.
Teresa Rivera sees the glass half full. The European Commission’s Vice-President for a Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition will receive El Paz in one of the summit rooms in Latin America’s oldest city, Santa Marta (Colombia), a few hours before the end of the meeting, when the final declaration, the bobbin lace, is completed. A few hours later, referring to Ukraine in the document, he said: “This is a very positive text that clearly emphasizes the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty in the face of aggression against Ukraine.”
listen. The summit was marred by the conspicuous absence of senior leaders. Do you think the outcome of the meeting will compensate for this?
answer. I give a very positive rating. At a time when trade relations, international order, co-operation as equals, Europe’s ability to continue to develop dialogue with very different actors in a multipolar world, and regions that do not always see the same way, such as Latin America and the Caribbean, where neighborly relations are not easy, are being harassed… Here the summit is going on, with very important participants, but not in all cases leaders. There have been very important interventions to engage with the issues, to address priorities and the importance of working together to make our voices heard during these turbulent times.
Q. You used the word harassment. By which country?
R. We are observing very important pressures on the way we understand the world that Europe represents. And I think this is seen sometimes through reactions, sometimes through physical attacks near borders, sometimes through questioning of trade rules, sometimes through the direct use of the tools that different powers have at their disposal, such as raw materials and trade relationships. We have seen a partner that has been our fundamental partner for decades in building an international order based on peace, cooperation, respect for norms and contribution to the peaceful development of all continents undergo a very significant change and move accordingly towards a transactional model. I think we’ve been experiencing this since the change of administration in the United States, and I think this should cause us Europeans to think about where our weaknesses are that we haven’t been paying attention to. Because we had a partner with whom we could build our way of life in a relaxed way.
Q. At the beginning of the 21st century, the EU lost its focus on Latin America due to the euro crisis and Brexit. Do you think the Trump factor is causing Europe to regain its position in Latin America?
R. I don’t understand. Each of us is trying to solve problems, but everyone knows that we are coming from a cycle in which there was not only a more or less relationship between the European Union and Latin America, but in the realities of this continent it was not easy. There are very different visions between communities in this Latin American country, and finding the dots that unite them has not always been easy.
Q. As a trading partner and investor in Latin America, what different advantages can the European Union offer compared to large powers such as China and the United States?
R. Quality and respect that is passed down through time. There are forces with clearly exploitative missions who exploit the deal for geopolitical gains that can generate revenue in other areas. The European Union has been characterized as a reliable partner that aims to transfer domestic demands outside its borders, such as high social and environmental standards. It is not about generating economic benefits in the very short term, which then quickly fade away, leaving behind environmental and social costs that make it very difficult to create opportunities in the future. European companies understand and respect this. We have a set of International Labor Organization conventions, a set of agreements, rules, and knowledge about how to avoid sacrificing natural resources in a way that creates irreparable harm. It seems like there is added value, and there is an important value compared to other things.
Q. The European social model is sometimes cited as a burden in global competition, but you see it as an added value.
R. Perhaps the American dream is a myth, but the European dream is a reality. Europe continues to be the best place to live in the world and the place where the majority of humanity would like to live or have a similar model within its territory. This is an important invisible force, but we still don’t know how to harness it in a sufficiently strategic way. Too often Europe assumes this to be the case and is not involved, not visible and does not defend this model in its relations with third parties. That has changed. Europe now understands that the time has come to say loud and clear that this is the best model of democracy.
Q. This morning he spoke very optimistically about signing a trade deal with Mercosur, but France’s latest statement invites doubts. Are you serious this time?
R. I believe that it will happen before the end of the Brazilian Mercosur President’s term, that is, by the end of the year. I don’t think people understand that 25 years until the expiration of a trade agreement is a long time. And I think it is incomprehensible that Europe and Latin America, through a special response to Mercosur, would miss the opportunity to unite markets and societies and tell the whole world that they want to continue working.
Q. Do you think France is the last big hurdle?
R. I think they’re still working on some detailed issues internally, but we fully believe this could be the case. Europe must find a solution that can provide guarantees to those who feel threatened by Europe, and it must understand that there is agreement on these characteristics, which all numbers show as positive for both continents.
Q. The issue of attacks on drug ships also came up at the summit. what is your position?
R. One of the fundamental axes of the European Union is the defense of the international order and the treaties and rights that we have given ourselves, and it seems that if you collect a manual of public international law, you will be able to recognize what that means and under what conditions the use of force is understood to be justified. At present, we do not appear to be in a situation that requires immediate self-defense or the assistance of the United Nations Security Council. So I think it’s very significant that in this morning’s discussions and meetings, there were many voices justifying respectful relationships between nations and the recognition that the ocean is a space where laws must also be respected.
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