From 22 to 24 September 2021, the EU-LAC Foundation, the Centre for Ibero-American Studies of the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC), the Ministry for Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic, the University of the North, UC3M, the Organisation of Iberoamerican States, the National University of Rosario, the Centre of International Relations Studies of Rosario, and the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation held the "International Euro-Latin American and Caribbean Congress - The necessary creation of a Euro-Latin American cultural space: Values, Principles and Proposals".
The Congress took place in a hybrid format, through the Zoom Platform and face-to-face sessions at the Royal Monastery of Yuste, headquarters of the Yuste Foundation. The main objective of this project was to research and analyse the cultural dimension in the bi-regional space between Latin America and the Caribbean and the European Union through the elaboration, exhibition and debate, to disseminate and raise awareness of culture for the creation of a Euro-Latin American cultural space.
The Executive Director of the EU-LAC Foundation, Dr Adrián Bonilla, participated in the opening session of this event jointly with Dr Javier Ramos López, Dean of the URJC, Dr Natalia Armijos, General Director of Culture of the Organization of Ibero-American States (OIE), Mr José María Hernández García, Mayor of Cuacos de Yuste, Mr Juan Carlos Moreno Piñero, Director of the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation, Mr Cástor Díaz Barrado, Director of the Centre for Ibero-American Studies at the URJC, Mr Roberto González Arana, Full Professor of the University of the North, and Mr José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, Former Minister of Culture of the Government of Spain.
The first panel, held on September 22, aimed to discuss “the role of culture in the EU-CELAC bi-regional association: values, principles and areas of action” and was moderated by Mr Cástor M. Díaz Barrado. Speakers included Ms Miryam Colacrai, Honorary Professor of International Relations at the National University of Rosario, Ms. Monica Garcia Alonso, General Director of Culture of the OIE, Mr. Carlos R. Fernández Liesa, Professor of Public International Law and International Relations at the Carlos III University of Madrid, and Mr Juan Mendoza Díaz, Professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Havana.
On the afternoon of September 23, the second panel was held on the subject of “traditional cultures and vulnerable groups: Minorities, Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendant communities. The discussion was moderated by Ms Sagrario Morán Blanco and had the participation of Dr Moisés Medrano, technical and strategic advisor to the Institute of Heritage and Culture of Cartagena, Mr Roberto González Arana, Professor of the Department of History and Social Sciences and Director of the Institute for Latin American and Caribbean Studies of the Universidad del Norte, Ms Diana M. Verdiales López, Head of Research and Development Cooperation Projects at the Center for Ibero-American Studies (CEIB) of the URJC, and Ms Ivonne Molinares Guerrero, Professor of the Department of History and Sciences Social Sciences of the University of the North.
The third and last round of discussions was held on September 24, on the subject of “Cultural heritage, bi-regional Association EU-CELAC and the Ibero-American Community of Nations: the Ibero-American Cultural Charter”. The Programme Manager of the EU-LAC Foundation, Diego Durán Cruz, moderated the panel, which counted with the expositions of Ms Sagrario Morán Blanco, Professor of International Relations at the URJC, Ms Marie Nioche, Professor of Private Law at the Paris X Nanterre University, Ms Ana Idalia Castellanos, Ambassador Director of Summits and Political Forums in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, Mr Harold Bertot Triana and Ms Elena Díaz Galán, Professors of International Relations at the URJC, and Mr Heitor Barras Romana, Full Professor and President of the Scientific Council of the Higher Institute of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Lisbon.
