EU Foreign Policy Towards Latin America

This book analyzes the relations between two geographical areas with different levels of regional institutionalization: the European Union and Latin America. Taking place in a neoliberal setting and characterized by low interdependence and asymmetry, this relationship operates at different levels that reflect the geometry of three institutional channels of bi-regional cooperation. First, EU-Latin American summits that involve a broad interregional arrangement of programs and include all the member states of this relationship. Second, EU association agreements with two Latin American countries and one sub-region, which focus on three main pillars (political dialogue, trade and cooperation). And third, free trade agreements as an alternative to cases where association agreements cannot be reached with individual Latin American countries or sub-regions in the medium term. The book argues that despite structural limits inherent to the bi-regional relationship, both parties are developing a variety of mechanisms to advance their interests and eventually forge common preferences for further cooperation in the Euro-Latin American area.

List of Tables Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations INTRODUCTION PART I: EU-LATIN AMERICAN INTERREGIONALISM 1.1. Regionalism and Integration 1.2. EU and Latin America 1.3. Regionness and Hybrid Interregionalism PART II: EU POLICIES TOWARD LATIN AMERICA 2.1. The EU System of External Relations 2.2. EU Institutions and Latin America 2.3. EU Policies and Latin America PART III: THE SUMMITS 3.1. Background of the Interregional Relationship 3.2. The Summits: Rediscovering the Other Transatlantic Relationship PART IV: ASSOCIATION AGREEMENTS 4.1. Mexico: The Frontrunner 4.2. Chile: Stability and Development 4.3. Central America: Halfway Integration PART V: ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES 5.1. Brazil: The New Global Player 5.2. Colombia: Reconciliation and Economic Growth 5.3. Peru: The Economic Miracle? 5.4. Colombia/Peru: Moving Forward 5.5. Ecuador: Reassessing the Strategy PART VI: REGIONAL PARTNERS 6.1. Mercosur: New Prospects 6.2. Cariforum: Transforming the Relationship 6.3. Andean Community: Integration in Decline PART VII: TENSE RELATIONSHIPS 7.1 Cuba: The Stagnation of the Model 7.2 Venezuela: No Prospects 7.3 Argentina: Unstable Recovery CONCLUSION Appendices Bibliography Index