The EU-LAC Foundation and the Regionalism Observatory presented last 27 July the Book “Multilateralism and Regionalism in challenging times: relations between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean”. This book follows up on a series of Webinars organised in 2021 on strategic topics regarding bi-regional relations between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
To kick-off, Dr Adrián Bonilla, Executive Director of the EU-LAC Foundation highlighted the importance of this book. In a time in which globalisation has changed ways of international cooperation, the relationship between LAC and the EU has an important role to play. Recent developments such as increased migration and economic crises have complicated extensive agreements between Latin America and the Caribbean and the EU. However, the governments of the two regions are in agreement that multilateralism remains the most efficient tool to address these challenges.
Then, Karina Mariano, from the São Paolo State University (UNESP), who contributed to various chapters in the book, provided her insights. She argued that even though the economic ties between the two regions are at the forefront of the discussion, the connection between the two regions goes beyond this by sharing similar norms and values. For example, many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean aim to move forward and confront challenges to keep improving institutions. Europe is an important reference for the region relating to topics such as democracy, human rights, and politics. She emphasised that the book goes beyond a mere academic approach by discussing different proposals to integrate in a way that is beneficial to all parties involved.
Finally, Bruno Theodoro Luciano, who is one of the coordinators of the book, gave an overview of all the chapters of the publication, which address themes such as democracy, environment, trade and human rights. Together, these chapters give a multidimensional and empirically-based approach to the relations between the EU and LAC.
The online launch was moderated by Cairo Gabriel Borges Junqueira of the Federal University of Sergipe (UFS). The publication is available in English and Spanish.
