Socialists and Democrats (S&D) MEP Ramón Jáuregui has called Donald Trump’s imminent presidency an “excellent opportunity” for the European Union to develop its relations with Latin America. EURACTIV Spain reports.
In a letter to the EU’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, the chair of the European Parliament’s Latin American delegation (DLAT) insisted that the EU should seize the chance afforded by Trump’s possible “nationalist and protectionist” approach in order to develop a “firm policy” in the region.
Jáuregui, who represents the Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE), said that the “EU would be in the right position to exploit and occupy the vacuum, by strengthening the political, commercial, development and social pillars of the Union’s Strategic Association with Latin American and the Caribbean.”
More specifically, the Spanish politician urged the EU to conclude its association agreement negotiations with four of the Mercosur countries, namely Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, as well as modernising its entire agreement with Mexico and starting the reform process of the bloc’s Chile deal.
Jáuregui also said that Brussels should conclude the ratification process of association agreements with six Central American countries (Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua), so that they are fully implemented, rather than being in their current provisional state. He also called for relations with Cuba, which were kicked into gear last week, to be advanced rapidly.
Finally, the MEP reiterated that the EU must support fully Colombia’s ongoing peace process and also proposed that the Union ups its presence in the Latin American country.
