Europe meets Latin America
On 16 May the fifth summit between Europe and Latin America will begin in Lima, Peru. Sweden will be represented by Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt, and the summit will see the heads of state and government of EU and Latin American states discuss poverty reduction and issues concerning the environment, climate change and energy. All of which are priority issues for Sweden. Per Norström, deputy head of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs' Americas Department, has answered some questions prior to the summit.
Broadly speaking, what is the purpose of the summit?
Per Norström
The fundamental purpose of this summit is to further strengthen and deepen relations between the EU and Latin America/the Caribbean.
How would you describe relations between the EU and Latin America?
Our cooperation is largely based on joint values that are linked to the historical, cultural and linguistic ties between the two regions. The EU is also the largest donor of development assistance and second-largest economic partner in Latin America.
Have relations changed in recent times?
Latin America has long criticised Europe for its diminishing interest in the region. This is a development that may well be turning around. Today, the majority of countries in the region are stable democracies and market economies.
Latin America is currently enjoying strong economic growth, largely as a result of an increase in global demand for energy and raw materials. There are already signs of growing interest on the part of the business sector. Direct foreign investments are also on the rise at the moment.
Which other issues, besides poverty reduction, the environment, climate change and energy, do you think will be discussed?
There's good reason to assume that rising international food prices will be discussed.
Facts
This summit, which takes place every other year, normally brings together around 50 heads of state and government. The last summit was held in Vienna in 2006. The summit is held in the EU and in Latin America alternately, and discussions focus on a few pre-determined topics. At the end of the summit, a joint declaration is adopted mapping out the way ahead for cooperation in the years to come.
