As expected, last week’s 5th Latin America and the Caribbean-European Union Summit in Lima, Peru, produced the usual rhetoric-filled declaration, built around the well-meaning theme of ‘Addressing Our Peoples’ Priorities Together,’and the so-called Lima Agenda aimed at deepening bi-regional cooperation to deal with challenges in two broad areas: poverty eradication, inequity and exclusion; and sustainable development, environment, climate change and energy.
Also, as anticipated, there was not much progress on the trade front, notwithstanding the stated objective of EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson to inject new life into trade negotiations with MERCOSUR and the Andean Community.
Yes, there was language in the dclaration about “taking into account the asymmetries among countries” and consolidating bi-regional trade to promote growth and sustainable development. But disagreements between the EU and MERCOSUR about the opening up of the EU market continue to be a hindrance to a deal with the Southern Cone and disagreements within the Andean Community have effectively stymied negotiations with the EU.