SPANISH FOREIGN POLICY IN LATIN AMERICA
Latin America is naturally a prime focus of Spain’s foreign policy, which attempts to combine the protection of Spain’s interests in the region with its willingness to help find solutions for the principal problems faced by the region.
The reestablishment of civil, representative governments in nearly every Latin American country has not led to significant improvement in the living conditions for most Latin American people.
This lack of progress is undoubtedly more the result of extremely strict economic policies based on the Washington Consensus than the democratic regime, but democracy has suffered all the more for it—in Latin America, significant numbers of the population have grown disillusioned with democracy and have begun to seek the protection of populist schemes that could, in the long run, lead to authoritarianism.
Spain hopes to simultaneously combat both the symptoms (disappointment and instability) and the causes (an economic model that is unable to generate sustainable wealth or strengthen social cohesion) of this trend.
To do this, Spain is using every means available.
Our cooperation activity focuses on two areas in particular: strengthening institutions and increasing social cohesion. Each of these focuses attempts to complement state action with participation by civil society, especially with regard to political parties and NGOs.
It is therefore essential to rekindle the camaraderie between the people and the government, so that each feels the support of the other as they strive to rise above the current situation. The continuous exchange of visits by high officials that is currently taking place is fundamental to achieving this objective.
Spain also feels a strong desire to protect its economic interests in Latin America. This, of course, becomes much easier if political relations are smooth and if efforts are being made to improve the political, economic, and social situation of each country. Protection of economic interests is further enhanced if the companies involved are willing to take social responsibility, as most have already done, and accept the fact that prosperity and stability in the countries where they work is the best guarantee of their own success.
Once again, we are presented with a challenge that can and must be shared by the State, companies, and social agents alike.
Latin American emigration to Spain is a new factor in our relations with the continent.
The Spanish Government is making efforts not only to improve the working and living conditions for such individuals in Spain, but also to establish mechanisms that will allow their efforts and remittances to have as large an effect as possible on development in these workers’ home countries, as well as benefits in Spain.
We feel that the Ibero-American space will become an important player in an increasingly multi-polar world that will operate most efficiently through multilateral mechanisms.
This means that the institutional mechanisms created at the Ibero-American Summits must be strengthened, with a focus on establishing the Ibero-American Community of Nations.
An important step forward was made with the creation and operation of the Ibero-American General Secretariat. Progress continued at the October 2005 Ibero-American Summit, held on Salamanca, with the creation of a common judicial and cultural area (Cultural Declaration and Judicial Network), coordination between our businesses and their commitment to the people (business forum on the social responsibility of businesses in the fight against hunger and poverty), and the search for innovative mechanisms for increasing social cohesion (debt forgiveness for investment in education).
Spain will continue to promote stronger ties between the two poles of the West: Europe and Latin America.
Not only will we continue to support initiatives at the EU-LA Summit, but also partnership agreements between the EU and MERCOSUR, the Andean Community, and Central America.