2023-07-22 04:34:32
BRUSSELS – The summit of leaders of the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean that concluded on Tuesday the 18th in this capital broadly agreed on promoting democracy, business and climate action, but did not reach unanimity when dealing with the theme of the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Nicaragua, in support of Moscow, refused to sign paragraph 15 of the 41 contained in the final declaration of this third summit – eight years after the second – between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).
In that paragraph, the other 59 countries on both sides of the Atlantic expressed “our deep concern about the ongoing war against Ukraine,” thereby shifting the blame for the invasion of Russian troops that began in February 2022.
That war, they added, “continues to cause immense human suffering and is exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy, restricting growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, and raising risks to financial stability.”
For this reason, they endorsed the resolutions of the Security Council and the United Nations General Assembly that have called for the cessation of the Russian invasion and demanded respect for international law, including the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all nations.
Beyond this disagreement, the European, Latin American and Caribbean leaders celebrated the resumption of their meetings, their political dialogue and their economic agreements and cooperation on environmental and climate matters.
In parallel there were numerous bilateral and group meetings, such as the one that addressed the issue of the political crisis in Venezuela, between figures from the ruling party and the opposition of that country with the presidents of Argentina, Alberto Fernández; Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Colombia, Gustavo Petro, and France, Emmanuel Macron.
The summit also included a meeting between businessmen from both regions, a People’s Summit in which leaders and leftist activists served as speakers, and small protest demonstrations against the governments of Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, against the meeting venues.
In the economic and cooperation field, the most notable was the announcement by the European Commission -the Executive of the EU- to secure financing, for 50.5 billion dollars, for more than 100 development and conservation projects, from here to 2027, in Latin America and the Caribbean.
For example, the development of industrial parks and green economy value chains in Mexico, and in Guatemala combat basin contamination and sustain the water supply to its capital.
In El Salvador, co-finance the Pacific train and line one of the San Salvador Metro; in Honduras, construction of a dam to produce sustainable energy, and in Costa Rica projects for sustainable fishing and agriculture, electrification of transport, and financing and development of green bonds.
In Panama, energy transition projects would be supported, and in Ecuador the extension and improvement of the sewerage and drinking water systems, as well as the Andean electrical interconnection system.
For Venezuela, support is announced for its program to reduce carbon dioxide and methane emissions in favor of the climate, environmental preservation and energy efficiency in its oil-producing province of Monagas (east).
In Colombia, the support would go to the production of green hydrogen and renewable energy, increase internet connectivity for 85% of Colombians and contribute to line 2 of the Bogotá Metro.
Regarding Peru, promotion of sustainable tourism, support for its electrical interconnection plans and improvement of urban mobility in several cities are expected. And in Bolivia, investments are being explored to exploit lithium, a strategic mineral for the global energy transition and of which that country has large reserves.
In Brazil, the projects are directed mainly towards the Amazon, to prevent deforestation and promote sustainable bioeconomy, and to finance green energy efficiency initiatives and promotion of green hydrogen.
In Paraguay, a new pulp mill with a forestry plantation project and renovation of the electricity distribution network would be attended.
In Argentina, attention is directed to value chains of critical raw materials such as lithium and copper, renewable energy production, investment in energy efficiency, renewable energy and bioeconomy.
In Uruguay, the production of renewable hydrogen and the adaptation of the infrastructure of the port of Montevideo would be supported, and in Chile the value chains of critical raw materials and the production of carbon-neutral fuels.
Jamaica expects support in its green bond market and for its urban renewal, waste management and micro-enterprise plans.
Cuba awaits support for its biotechnological industry, and for new wind and solar plants to increase its electricity production, and the Dominican Republic for its urban transport infrastructure, and for water and waste management.
Belize wants to finance mini-infrastructures for indigenous communities, and credit for SMEs, micro-enterprises and farmers, especially those run by women in rural communities.
Resources will go to Guyana to support forests, water treatment and manufacture of sanitary products, and to the Lesser Antilles to invest in solar and wind technology, face chronic water scarcity, adapt to climate change and combat ocean pollution. .
In the case of Haiti, the announced programs refer to supporting education, in Barbados health programs and mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and in Trinidad and Tobago the issues of obtaining and treating water, and supporting the transition digital.
The declaration reiterated, at the political level, a common belief, by reaffirming that “the shared values on which our association is based remain unchanged: resilience, inclusive and democratic societies, the promotion, protection and respect of all human rights and fundamental freedoms”.
Also “the rule of law, free, fair, inclusive and transparent democracy, credible elections and freedom of the press, inclusive multilateralism and international cooperation, based on the principles and objectives of the Charter of the United Nations and international law” .
A-E/HM
#Latin #America #unanimous #closing #summit