The MEP and president of Eurolat, Gabriel Mato, and the president of the Latin American component of the Eurolat Assembly, Daniel Caggiani, highlighted this Wednesday the role of Canarias as a "bridge" between Europe and Latin America to address current challenges, including migration, whose "positive" impact they will examine together with different representatives of civil society.
Both leaders spoke at a press conference following the inauguration of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly, which has been hosted by the Parliament of Canarias since this Tuesday. In that context, they underscored the relevance of the archipelago as a "meeting point" between both continents to advance in the analysis of common challenges.
"Canarias is a meeting point between two continents. Obviously. I have a special satisfaction and pride in being able to hold this meeting here, a meeting that brings together more than 100 deputies from the European Parliament and Latin American parliaments. In addition, Canarias is an example of the historical, cultural, and human ties between Europe and Latin America," the MEP stated during his speech.
Mato detailed the reasons that led to choosing the islands as the venue for the meeting, relying on the idea that "there are few territories" with a historical, cultural, and social relationship "so strong" between Europe and Latin America. "We wanted that meeting to be held in a place that symbolized this relationship," he said.
For his part, the president of the Latin American component of Eurolat, Daniel Caggiani, insisted that "The Parliament, the Euro-Latin American Assembly, is a bridge between the people and the governments, between the needs of society and the possibilities of the States. And Canarias is, without a doubt, a bridge between Latin America and Europe".
Caggiani emphasized that the meeting, which brings together almost 100 parliamentarians from Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, represents the "reaffirmation" that parliamentary diplomacy "has a necessary role to fulfill," with the purpose of building "common paths," even when "fragmentation and polatization" today have an "important" repercussion.
"National and regional Parliaments have a fundamental role. We must work on improving regulations on artificial intelligence, on the transformations in the world of work, on bilateral relations, trade and investment, and on offering more opportunities so that our peoples can live a little better. That is the development that lies ahead of us," he added.
Agenda of the Eurolat Assembly
During these days, the nearly 100 parliamentarians participating in the Eurolat Assembly will debate "shared" challenges on both sides of the Atlantic. Among them are trade and economic issues, with special attention to the European Union-Mercosur agreement and the opportunities it opens up, as well as guarantees for the "most sensitive" sectors. "We have also worked on the digital alliance of Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as on consumer protection."
In the field of democracy and international relations, Mato has specified that the purpose of the meeting is to strengthen cooperation to "strengthen human rights," democracy and multilateralism. "We will continue talking about sustainable development and technology, about the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems, and about the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence," he added.
With a social perspective, the Eurolat Assembly will also address the situation of labor rights, cultural cooperation and the protection of minors on the internet in the face of the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence in the 21st century.
In matters of security and cooperation, common threats between regions will also be at the center of the debate. In particular, the importance of "bidirectional cooperation" will be addressed in order to respond to "specific" problems affecting citizens, such as the maritime routes of organized crime in the Atlantic.
"We are also going to debate how cooperation between Europe and Latin America can be strengthened in the face of major emergencies, moving from solidarity to operational assistance mechanisms, a topic from which we have a lot to learn and from which we can also share with our partners in Latin America," Mato pointed out.
Migration and the role of civil society
Migration and the involvement of civil society will likewise occupy a central place in the sessions. "Canarias knows well the importance of migrations in the history of our societies and the challenges posed by their management," said MEP Gabriel Mato, who previewed the meeting with civil society scheduled for this afternoon in order to examine migration from a "positive approach," focused on its "constribution" to European and Latin American societies.
"We also want to listen to those who live through these realities firsthand, incorporating their experiences into parliamentary dialogue," Mato remarked, who recalled the 20th anniversary of the creation of Eurolat. The sessions will conclude this Thursday in Canarias with a tribute to the presidents who have been part of its history, recognizing their work in generating "spaces for dialogue".