The Diplomat
Fernández Trigo closed the course held last week at the Menéndez Pelayo International University in Santander, organised by the Carolina Foundation and the Government of Cantabria, under the slogan “Latin America and the European Union: democracy, development and renewal of the social contract. Challenges for the Spanish Presidency of the EU 2023”.
In his speech, the State Secretary stressed the importance of Europe establishing a closer relationship with Latin America, and that the decisions affecting the region should take into account its plurality.
He insisted that Spain will maintain its role as a bridge between the two continents “to promote the construction of joint and multilateral responses to common challenges”.
He also advocated deepening the strategic relationship between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean, indicating that this should be a priority issue on the agenda. In this regard, he said, “During the Spanish Presidency of the EU, we want to give impetus to the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement, and to the modernisation agreements with the EU-Chile and EU-Mexico”.
Fernández Trigo said that “Latin America is essential for Spain, and it cannot be understood in any other way”. Our foreign policy,” he said, “has been and is looking towards Latin America as a priority. There must be a relationship between the two regions on an equal footing, and this relationship should not be taken for granted. We must look to the present, but above all to the future, and the Spanish Presidency of the European Union in 2023 is an opportunity to renew and strengthen relations”.
The course was attended by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell; the State Secretary for International Cooperation, Pilar Cancela; the Director of the Spanish Agency for Development Cooperation, Antón Leis; and specialists and personalities from both regions.
The programme, directed by José Antonio Sanahuja, Director of the Carolina Foundation, and Paz Díaz Nieto, Director General of European Funds of the Government of Cantabria, dealt with the situation that both the European Union and Latin America are experiencing as they emerge from the pandemic, in which several crises coincide simultaneously: health, socio-economic, political, eco-social and geopolitical.
At the closing ceremony, José Antonio Sanahuja expressed his satisfaction at the achievement of the objectives and issues addressed. For her part, Paz Díaz Nieto, stated that “this type of initiative is a clear commitment by the Government of Cantabria to promote dialogue between Europe, Spain and Latin America”.
