Latijns-Amerika en het Caribisch gebied

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Het EESC werkt sinds de jaren 1990 samen met Latijns-Amerikaanse en Caribische tegenhangers. Verschillende EESC-adviezen hadden betrekking op de betrekkingen met deze regio op regionaal, subregionaal en nationaal niveau. Tot de prioriteiten van het EESC behoren de ontwikkeling van het maatschappelijk middenveld, economische en sociale ontwikkeling, regionale integratie en samenwerking op multilateraal niveau.

Op regionaal niveau organiseert het EESC tweejaarlijkse bijeenkomsten tussen de vertegenwoordigers van het maatschappelijk middenveld in Europa, Latijns-Amerika en het Caribisch gebied, als een van de voorbereidende evenementen voorafgaand aan de EU-Celac-top. 

Op subregionaal en nationaal niveau zijn verschillende permanente structuren opgezet: in 2009 heeft het EESC samen met de Braziliaanse Sociaal-Economische Raad een rondetafel van het maatschappelijk middenveld opgezet om een forum te bieden voor dialoog en voortdurende samenwerking tussen de vertegenwoordigers van het Braziliaans en Europees maatschappelijk middenveld. De associatieovereenkomst tussen de EU en Chili gaf het EESC een mandaat om een gemengd raadgevend comité op te richten met zijn Chileense tegenhanger van het maatschappelijk middenveld, om toezicht te houden op de overeenkomst. Deze werd uiteindelijk opgezet in 2016. Het EESC neemt ook deel aan het Raadgevend Comité Cariforum-EU dat toezicht houdt op de economische partnerschapsovereenkomst tussen Cariforum en de EU. Het EESC neemt ook deel aan het raadgevend comité EU-Cariforum dat toezicht houdt op de economische partnerschapsovereenkomst tussen Cariforum en de EU. Er zijn permanente betrekkingen tot stand gebracht met de institutionele tegenhangers van het EESC in de Mercosur (het Sociaal-Economisch Forum) en Midden-Amerika (het Raadgevend Comité van het Centraal-Amerikaans Integratiesysteem).

  • During the meeting, the Commission representative provided information about the implementation of the project on labour standards delivered in cooperation with the ILO in El Salvador and Guatemala. The Commission also informed about preparations for meetings with Central America planned for 15-17 June in Honduras, in particular meeting of the intergovernmental Board on Trade and Sustainable Development. The EU Advisory Group then discussed preparations for the civil society meetings with Central America, which this year will include a workshop on market access, a joint meeting of the Advisory Groups and an open Civil Society Dialogue Forum. In the afternoon, a video-conference with Central American partners took place to discuss preparations for joint meetings.

  • During the meeting, the EU DAG had an opportunity to discuss with Mr. Helmut Scholz, Member of the European Parliament, implementation of the Trade and Sustainable Development Title and work of the civil society monitoring mechanism in the framework of the EU-Colombia and Peru Trade Agreement. Moreover, the representatives of the European External Action Service (EEAS) presented information about the EU relations and cooperation with Colombia and Peru. Based on the Second Annual Report, the Commission representative provided information about the implementation of the Trade Agreement, changes in trade flows and work of joint bodies. He also informed about the procedures and timeline related to Ecuador's accession to the Agreement. The EU DAG discussed also with the Commission preparations for the next meeting with Colombia and Peru under the Trade and Sustainable Development Title, as well as the ways to better communicate its activities to the partners and other relevant stakeholders.

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    The Consultative Committee (CC) is one of the 5 institutions foreseen in the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement. The CC is composed of 40 (25 from the CARIFORM side and 15 from  the EU side)  standing representatives of organisations of the civil society  representing employers' organisations, trade unions, other economic, social and non-governmental organisations, including development and environmental organisations; and the academic community.

  • During the meeting, the representative of the European External Action Service (EEAS) presented information about the EU relations and cooperation with Central America. Based on the Second Annual Report, the Commission representative provided information about the implementation of the trade pillar of the Association Agreement, changes in trade flows and work of joint bodies established by the Agreement. The EU Advisory Group discussed also preparations for the next meeting with Central America under the Trade and Sustainable Development Title, as well as the ways to better communicate its activities to the Central American partners and other relevant stakeholders.

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    The External Relations Section (REX) of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is responsible for dialogue between European civil society organisations and their homologues from the countries with which the European Union has formal relations (e.g. under the form of a Free Trade Agreement). Through this dialogue, made possible by a series of bilateral bodies, and through specialized opinions and information reports, the Committee is able to concretely contribute to EU foreign policy.

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