Conclusions and Recommendations of the Regional Meeting on institutional architecture for integration in Latin America and the Caribbean

Transcription

1 Sistema Económico Latinoamericano y del Caribe Latin American and Caribbean Economic System Sistema Econômico Latino-Americano e do Caribe Système Economique Latinoaméricain et Caribéen Conclusions and Recommendations of the Regional Meeting on institutional architecture for integration in Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Meeting on Institutional Architecture for integration in Latin America and the Caribbean Caracas, Venezuela 3 and 4 July 2007 SP/RR-IIALCDT Nº1 07/Rev.

2 Copyright SELA, July All rights reserved. Printed in the Permanent Secretariat of SELA, Caracas, Venezuela. The Press and Publications Department of the Permanent Secretariat of SELA must authorise reproduction of this document, whether totally or partially, through The Member States and their government institutions may reproduce this document without prior authorisation, provided that the source is mentioned and the Secretariat is aware of said reproduction.

3 1 1. The current global scenario poses a series of challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean stemming from phenomena such as globalization, the trend to create regional and subregional blocs, the inequities existing in the international economic system, the difficulties to have access to technology, the unfair conditions of the foreign debt and trade exchanges, as well as other unsolved national problems that are obstacles for achieving true integration. 2. Vis-à-vis this scenario, Latin American and Caribbean integration has become more necessary than ever, because in facing current global challenges it is crucial to adopt strategies of a regional nature, particularly in view of the size and relative weight of our economies within a global framework. 3. Therefore, the insufficiencies that still affect regional integration processes must be faced as soon as possible with firm determination particularly those insufficiencies related to the institutional structures of each one of the integration processes. This is crucially important in view of the need to readjust the operations of these structures in South America, in order to pave the way for the formal establishment and consolidation of the South American Union of Nations (UNASUR) and eventually, for a Union of Latin American and Caribbean Nations (UNALAC). The development of higher trading levels among the countries of the region and the inclusion of objectives referred to economic issues that are not directly related to trade, as well as the urgent incorporation of social and cultural issues into integration efforts, are some of the pending tasks to push the integration processes towards higher levels in terms of their depth and scopes. In addition to these tasks, it is also necessary to ensure an institutional structure that allows for reaching new levels of operation. 4. Another very important task stems from the need to overcome existing insufficiencies as regards the dissemination of information about integration-related issues among the peoples of the region. For this reason, it is urgent to start a debate on the future of regional integration that involves the largest possible number of social sectors in Latin America and the Caribbean. 5. Recognizing that there are different visions and strategies as regards integration coexisting in the region at present, and in view of the need to make strides in the integration processes, it is indispensable to identify the common potentials and objectives in order to move ahead with regional integration in the directions required for achieving economic and social development in Latin American and Caribbean countries. As part of this task, a review and a readjustment of the institutional structures for integration play a very important role. 6. As part of such readjustment of the institutional structures for integration, a toppriority objective should be to improve the operation of those institutional structures so as to enable them to reach levels of performance and depth that make them less vulnerable to external factors that may have an influence on social and economic development of Latin America and the Caribbean. 7. The greatest possible efforts should be made in order to consolidate a regional institution that defends the interests of Latin America and the Caribbean in particular, visà-vis the external pressures that can be seen at all levels and the current existence of fragmentations resulting from different sectoral interests at different moments of history

4 2 8. The readjustment of the institutional structures of regional integration should ensure the best possible coordination of the internal agendas of the various countries in the region, their strategies for insertion into the global economy, and the objectives, contents and paces that are attached to the integration processes. 9. Unity in Latin America and the Caribbean must be reached through a political consensus aimed at ensuring a more effective cooperation and materializing an integration that responds to the interests of our peoples. RECOMMENDATIONS 10. Integration should be based on the principles of cooperation, complementarity, respect for the sovereignty and the right to self-determination of the peoples, and solidarity, understood as a commitment to provide mutual support and to make common efforts in order to achieve an integral human development. 11. Recognizing the divergences that exist in our region with respect to the integration strategies, some basic elements could be considered in defining a Latin American and Caribbean program to make contributions to the coordination and convergence of the various integration efforts, including: a) The possible negotiation of certain common disciplines which, in addition to promoting cooperation and regional integration, should improve the position of Latin America and the Caribbean vis-à-vis global actors as regards issues such as: rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, trade facilitation, technical standards and regulations, among others. b) The strengthening of flexible mechanisms for regional cooperation as an efficient way towards Latin American and Caribbean integration. A special interest was seen in the projects envisaged within the various schemes for the treatment of asymmetries, the contents of the ALBA, and the recent proposals and negotiations for the creation of an independent financial institution to support regional development. c) The possibility to open a debate among the States Members of SELA and the representatives of subregional integration organizations in order to establish some common minimum positions for Latin America and the Caribbean as regards the negotiations with countries and extra-regional groups of countries, as well as in multilateral economic forums. 12. The meeting supported the proposal for the Permanent Secretariat of SELA, as a regional organization, to give priority within its Work Program to the analysis and drafting of proposals related to the institutional framework for regional integration, in compliance with its mandates. For this purpose, the meeting urged the current institutions of the region and the Member States to support SELA in this process. 13. Strengthening UNASUR necessarily implies a coordination effort among various regional organizations. In this regard, the Permanent Secretariat of SELA will have to play an important role. Also, the Permanent Secretariat of SELA, with the support of other regional institutions, could make decisive contributions to the progress of economic relations between Central American and CARICOM countries. 14. The Permanent Secretariat was recommended to consider the main elements discussed at this regional meeting, particularly its conclusions and recommendations, in order to add them to the official documents that will be prepared ahead of the Forum on

5 3 the Challenges of Latin American and Caribbean Integration and the Role of SELA, which will take place during the next Latin American Council. 15. The delegates and participants thanked the Permanent Secretariat for its efforts to successfully conduct this meeting.