Latin America and the Caribbean

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The EESC has been working with Latin American and Caribbean counterpart organisations since the 1990s. Several EESC's opinions have focused on relations with this region, at regional, sub-regional and national level. The EESC's priorities include the development of civil society organisations, economic and social development, regional integration and cooperation in the multilateral sphere.

At a regional level, the EESC organises biennial meetings between civil society organisation representatives in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, as one of the preparatory events prior to the EU-CELAC Summit.

At sub-regional and national level, several permanent structures have been set up: In 2009, the EESC set up a civil society Round Table with the Brazilian Economic and Social Council to provide a forum for dialogue and continuous cooperation between representatives of Brazilian and European civil society. The EU-Chile Association Agreement gave the Committee a mandate to establish a Joint Consultative Committee with its Chilean civil society counterpart in order to monitor the agreement, which was finally set up in 2016. As regards the Andean Community countries, the EESC takes part in the Domestic Advisory Group monitoring the EU-Colombia/Peru/Ecuador free trade agreement. It also participates in the CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee that monitors the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement. Permanent relations have been established with the EESC's institutional counterparts in Mercosur (the Economic and Social Consultative Forum) and Central America (the Consultative Committee of the Central American Integration System).

  • Reference number
    NÂş 59/2016

    On 4 and 5 October 2016 the first meeting was held of the EU-Chile Civil Society Joint Consultative Committee (JCC), established by the EU-Chile Association Agreement (AA). With the establishment of this Committee, the final provision of the Association Agreement is being implemented, eleven years after the Agreement entered into force. The JCC will be made up of...

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    The EESC participates in the important event on labour, organized by the European Commission (DG EMPL). The Conference creates an opportunity to exchange views on how to strengthen compliance with labour rights and promote decent working conditions, with a particular focus on freedom of association, combating informality at work in rural areas and eradicating child labour.

  • The CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee (CC) was established with the task and responsibility of fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration among delegates from civil society organizations, including the academic community, and social and economic stakeholders.

  • The agenda of the 10th hybrid meeting of the JCC includes the presentation of the ongoing work objectives, as well as the discussion on the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement, in particular the state of play of the ratification process and the role of the civil society under the renewed deal.

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    EU-Central America joint meeting of civil society Advisory Groups and Civil Society Dialogue Forum

  • 12 December 2022 - Hybrid Brussels

     

     

  • 18th meeting of the EU - DAG Colombia-Peru-Ecuador

    17 October 2022 - Hybrid Brussels

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    8th joint meeting of the EU DAG and representatives from the domestic mechanisms of Colombia, Peru and Ecuador and Civil Society Open Session

    28 October 2022 - Virtual

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    High level exploratory mission - Argentina

  • The 21st meeting of the EU Advisory Group for the EU-Central America Association Agreement took place virtually on 4 April 2022.