European Union-Latin America-Caribbean Relations:
A Preview of the European-Latin-American-Caribbean Summit
April
4-6, 2002
University
of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida
Manuel Marín, former
Vice President of the European Commission, a 13-year veteran of the Commission
(1986-1999), with a portfolio of EU-Latin America relations, and current
spokesperson for the Spanish Socialist Party, Partido Socialista Obrero
Español (PSOE) in the
Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Spanish Congress, has accepted to be the
keynote speaker in a conference organized by the Miami European Union Center (a
partnership of the University of Miami and Florida International University),
in cooperation with the North-South Center.
European-Latin American-Caribbean relations – an historical
review, current conditions, and future prospects – will be the focus of this
conference. Special consideration will
be given to the cultural, historical, economic, and political links between
Spain and the Americas, as Spain currently holds the rotating presidency of the
European Union. The roles and
perceptions of the United States, and comparative regionalism in Europe and the
Americas will also be part of the agenda.
High level academics from Europe and Latin America, EU officials,
and members of the European Parliament will participate in this program. Many of the papers presented at this
conference as well as those resulting from it will be incorporated into two
volumes on European Union-Latin American relations and comparative
regionalism. One of these volumes is in
the planning stages with the University of Quintana Roo in Mexico, and the
other is under consideration by the North-South Center.
Tentative format:
Site: UM Faculty Club or McLemore Executive Center, with
optional dinner/reception at President’s home.
This event coincides with the agenda
of the Spanish presidency of the European Union (first semester 2002), and will
become the centerpiece of the activities supported by the EU Consulates in
Miami, currently chaired by the Spanish Consulate. Various Latin American
consulates will also participate.
Members of the European-Latin American-Caribbean relations
interest sections of the European Union Studies Association (EUSA) and the
Latin American Studies Association (LASA) will also participate.
All attendees will debate and draft
a document of recommendations to be presented to the European Council meeting
at the EU-LA-Caribbean Summit of heads of state and government to held in
Madrid from May 17-18, 2002. The goal of this Summit is to sign a
EU-LA-Caribbean trade and cooperation agreement. Papers and abstracts will be
attached to the document and included in the European Union Center websites.
This event will accelerate the plans for the Salvador de
Madariaga program to be dedicated to Spain in the EU, as an expansion of the
Jean Monnet chair of the University of Miami.
For context, please go to provisional sites: www.miami.edu/international-studies/euc and www.euroy.org