The Latin America Follow-up Committee

The Latin America Follow-Up Committee (LAFC) coordinates and steers the European Economic and Social Committee's (EESC) relations with civil society organisations across Latin America.

The LAFC's core mission is to monitor the socio-economic and political situation in the region, strengthen organised civil society, foster participatory democracy, and support regional integration. Its overarching goal is to reinforce the EU-Latin America strategic partnership by empowering social partner advisory bodies at national and regional levels, and by promoting civil society participation in EU-Latin America dialogue and negotiation processes, particularly in the context of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement.

In line with this mission, the LAFC actively engages with civil society organisations to promote sustainable, inclusive, and rules-based interregional cooperation. This was reflected in the Committee's latest own-initiative opinion REX/586 Deforestation of the Amazon rainforest – impact on climate change and the global environment; consequences for companies, workers and population, adopted in September 2024. The opinion highlights the vital role of civil society in tackling environmental and social challenges linked to deforestation, ensuring traceability and sustainability in trade, and supporting a balanced EU-Mercosur agreement that integrates environmental protection, labour rights, and fair economic development.

Through regular meetings, study visits, and structured dialogue mechanisms such as Domestic Advisory Groups (DAGs) and the EU-Chile Joint Consultative Committee, the LAFC serves as a bridge between European and Latin American civil societies. These exchanges reinforce participatory democracy, allow for joint monitoring of trade and sustainable development commitments, and contribute to building a resilient, future-oriented EU-Latin America partnership based on mutual respect, social justice, and sustainability.