The Diplomat
The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jutta Urpilainen, announced yesterday in Brussels together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, the launch of a new EU program worth 60 million euros to intensify action against inequalities and promote inclusive and egalitarian societies in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The announcement of the Inclusive Societies program took place during the EU-Latin America and the Caribbean Forum (EU-LAC Forum), which brought together representatives of civil society, youth and local authorities a few days before the EU-CELAC Leaders’ Summit in Brussels. According to the Commission, the overall objective of this initiative is to “address inequalities, reduce poverty and social exclusion and improve social cohesion in Latin American and Caribbean countries”.
Therefore, the program will support pilot initiatives to facilitate transformative changes towards inclusive, fair and egalitarian societies and will promote social and gender policies, education and skills development, social protection and inclusion, with a specific emphasis on women and youth and on improving access to social rights and basic social services for the most vulnerable sectors. “Through the program, the EU will help improve inclusive, accountable and transparent public institutions and promote social innovation, resilience and just transitions,” the Commission added.
The new program will mobilize €60 million from the EU budget. In addition, the Commission and EU Member States are preparing a Team Europe initiative based on the program launched yesterday that would act as a platform to improve social cohesion and address inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
“I believe that focusing on people and human development is key to prosperity, and essential to reducing the inequalities that hinder sustainable development,” the Commissioner stated. That is why, she continued, “I am proud to announce this new EU program, which illustrates how the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda strives to improve the lives of our citizens, their well-being and social cohesion.” “The program will provide a comprehensive framework for developing innovative social policies and sharing best practices” and will advance “the transition towards fairer, more inclusive and sustainable societies in Latin America and the Caribbean,” she added.
For his part, Albares stated that the program announced by the Commissioner is in line with the priorities of the Spanish Presidency of the EU in favor of the so-called “triple transition”. “We have to work to improve the lives of our societies by focusing on three areas: social, digital and environmental,” he warned.
“Most of the funding goes to the green and digital transition, but in my conversations with the main representatives of civil society and young people” in Latin America “the aspect of inequalities and social inclusion comes up more and more,” he continued. “That’s why we wanted to have this 60 million project through which to put the focus on other areas such as education and training,” he added.
In addition, Albares stated during the forum that Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean share the defense of sustainable development, democratic values, human rights and respect for peace and the environment and assured that the Spanish Presidency will work with the European institutions for a relationship between Europe and Latin America “at the height of what our societies demand from us”.
The general objective of the EU-LAC Forum, organized in the framework of the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit, was to exchange opinions and experiences in an inclusive manner and to analyze opportunities to forge a sustainable and inclusive future in both regions. The outcome of this dialogue will serve to develop recommendations to be addressed to the Summit for closer cooperation between non-state actors and youth organizations in both regions.
