Relations between Latin America and Italy, as well as the European Union, are back in the spotlight following the recent State visit of President Sergio Mattarella to Brazil in July 2024 and the mission of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to Latin America in July 2023, during the III Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), where she met with the Presidents of Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Mexico. Optimism seems to have been revived regarding potential regional investments within the framework of the European Global Gateway and the trade agreement with Mercosur, the South American bloc, although there are still obstacles to overcome.
Will the new governance of the European Union be able to reach full consensus on the Mercosur agreement, negotiated since 1999, which would strengthen political, economic, and trade ties with the Latin American region? Will the European bloc, and particularly Italy, be able to maintain its traditional space for dialogue and its historic presence in Latin America, given the region’s growing interdependence with China, currently Mercosur’s main trade partner for critical materials? What priority would the European bloc – and specifically Italy – give today to a key region in global discussions on food security, energy transition, sustainable development, and poverty reduction, as well as global governance reform, and at the same time, the host of upcoming G20, BRICS+, and United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) summits?
Discussing these issues and seeking possible answers would provide an opportunity to reflect on the interregional relationship and the interaction between Mercosur and the European Union. The awareness that a closer partnership between Latin America and Europe would be mutually beneficial could be a key factor for the future at a time when the international system is undergoing a period of heightened geopolitical tension. At the heart of this debate are the pillars that uphold our common values in defense of democracy, the rule of law, sustainable development, and equality in all its forms.
