The Diplomat
Spanish and Latin American companies are “moderately optimistic” about the economic possibilities offered by relations between the EU and Latin America and especially value the importance of concluding the EU’s trade agreements with Mercosur, Chile and Mexico.
This is the conclusion of the study Companies in the EU-CELAC relationship, prepared by the Business Council Alliance for Ibero-America (CEAPI) and presented last Tuesday in the presence of the Ibero-American Secretary General (SEGIB), Andrés Allamand; the president of CEAPI, Núria Vilanova; and the author of the report and researcher at the Complutense Institute of Studies, Erika Rodríguez Pinzón.
According to the report, the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean “have a significant basis for mutual understanding, but much dialogue, political commitment and quality of economic cooperation instruments are needed to make the bi-regional relationship deeper and more beneficial for both parties”.
In this sense, the study highlights the importance of trade and investment agreements between the EU and Latin America, as well as the interest of companies in exporting, importing and investing in both regions. The report mentions obstacles and risks, such as lack of skilled labor, insecurity, legal instability and corruption, but also highlights the positive perception of trade and investment opportunities in both regions.
The report analyzes the business perception of the new instruments, launched at the EU-CELAC summit in 2023 to generate a strategic relationship between Europe and Latin America. The study was elaborated through round tables that allowed listening to companies and some international organizations committed to Latin America and was completed with a survey among 50 companies associated to CEAPI, 29 Spanish, one based in Switzerland and the rest Latin American or based in multiple countries.
According to the study, the companies have a “moderately optimistic” perception of the relationship between Europe and Latin America in relation to economic activity, inflation, consumption, employment, labor costs, business investment, conditions and access to financing, energy and raw material costs, and tax conditions and fiscal pressure. Specifically, 75% of those surveyed were optimistic in all the cases mentioned.
As for investment, a good thermometer of business prospects, 20% of the companies surveyed are certain that they will start operations in Latin America and another 20% will increase their presence in the region, while 50% consider it somewhat or very likely that they will start operations and 60% somewhat or very likely that they will increase their presence in Latin America.
The “moderate optimism” of businessmen, according to the study, is due to several factors, among them a positive perception of the evolution of economic activity, moderate optimism in relation to consumption and employment, and confidence in the capacity for growth and development of their companies. Likewise, measures to control inflation are viewed positively, and there is an equally optimistic perception regarding conditions and access to financing. Among the aspects that frighten respondents in their relationship with Latin America, social and political factors stand out, especially public and legal insecurity.
Agreements
In this context, economic and productive progress requires social advances and political and social stability, institutional strengthening and greater social cohesion, areas in which the European Union has been, and continues to be, a great ally of Latin America and the Caribbean. For this reason, bilateral and regional agreements between the European Union and different regions or countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are considered “key drivers” of growth and diversification strategies in both regions.
Therefore, the report warns that it is important that companies know and take advantage of the benefits and opportunities provided by these agreements and that the modernization processes of the agreements with Mexico and Chile (the latter was signed in Brussels this Wednesday, just a day before the presentation of the report) go ahead and, above all, that the signing of the EU-Mercosur Agreement is promoted. These agreements are “a necessary element to strengthen the bi-regional relationship and common values and interests, address global challenges and opportunities, enhance sustainable economic growth, strengthen strategic supply chains, and promote the necessary economic security and autonomy,” the report adds.
The document concludes that “for the next EU-CELAC summit there are many pending tasks, among them, to improve the mechanisms and instruments to address the challenges and priorities of companies, as fundamental actors in the bi-regional relationship”. “It is necessary to improve the articulation between the different spaces of the EU-CELAC relationship, such as the business summit and those of finance ministers as providers of evidence and initiative for high-level decision-making,” it adds.
