SCENE SETTER FOR EU-LATIN AMERICAN AND CARRIBBEAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUBLIN 000774

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2014
TAGS: PREL ETRD EUN
SUBJECT: SCENE SETTER FOR EU-LATIN AMERICAN AND CARRIBBEAN
SUMMIT

Classified By: DCM Jane B. Fort for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

SUMMARY


1. (SBU) The EU-Latin American and Caribbean Summit
convenes in Guadalajara, Mexico, May 27 - 29. 15 EU Heads of
Government plan to attend a meeting the Irish hope will
commit countries in the region to further social, economic
and political development leading to expanded trade and
better relations with the EU. Irish-led negotiations in
Brussels have produced a draft Summit Declaration they hope
will focus the region's relationship with the EU more on the
social, economic, and political goals laid out in the
Monterrey Consensus. Final stage Declaration negotiations
move to Mexico next week in the run up to the Summit. EU
strategists hope to secure eventual Latin and Caribbean bloc
voting support for EU positions at the UN. End Summary.

CONTEXT OF THE SUMMIT


2. (C) Poloff spoke with Jonathan Conlon, of the Latin
America office at the DFA, on May 19. He noted the Summit
occurs against the backdrop of ongoing EU/MERCOSUR trade
negotiations on an association agreement that the EU still
hopes to conclude by October this year. The ambitions of the
Central American and Andean regional groups, who are looking
for similar agreements of association with the EU, will
likely affect their moods and negotiating postures at the
Summit.


3. (C) The Irish strongly prefer discussions to focus on
issues directly affecting both regions rather than stray into
global issues. However, global issues may well arise as they
did at the last Summit in Madrid. This time around, these
could include current events in Iraq and in the Middle East.


AGENDA


4. (U) The two-part agenda addresses "effective
multilateralism" and "social cohesion."

-- Effective multilateralism --


5. (U) Earlier this month, Ireland failed to get the phrase
"effective multilateralism" approved at the
Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial. Ministers refused to accept
the word "effective." Ireland is hoping include "effective"
in the Latin-Caribbean declaration.


6. (C) Ireland's draft addresses UN reform and EU/Latin
American cooperation and coordination. Agreement on a
position for UN reform is proving difficult within the EU
with their varying positions on a range of issues,
overshadowed by German and Italian vying for permanent seats
on the Security Council, Conlon said.


7. (C) Significantly for the USG, Conlon revealed the EU
hopes to find ways to capitalize on the strength of numbers
from the blocs -- EU, Latins and Caribbean -- to sway UN
negotiations their way. Poloff pointed out that G77 politics
could hamper coordinated bloc voting. Conlon conceded this
could happen but said it was worth starting the process to
see how it would develop.

-- Social Cohesion --


8. (C) Regarding social cohesion issues, Ireland hopes to
address well-known EU social, economic, and political
objectives that will commit Latin and Caribbean countries
further to self-financed reform and sustainable development.


9. (C) The EU wants to move countries further away from
dependence on external aid and toward "full implementation of
the Monterrey consensus," including taxing domestic wealth,
generating local capital, and setting policies that should
attract foreign direct investment, Conlon added.


10. (C) On the theme of "Social Cohesion," the Irish hope
the Latins and Caribbeans will endorse themes including:

-- fighting corruption;

-- working to overcome political and economic inequality
and discrimination on any grounds;

-- formulating national plans that address social
exclusion, including eliminating the marginalization of
indigenous people;

DECLARATION


11. (C) A Declaration, drafted by the Chairs and submitted
to ministers/heads of government at the Summit, has been
under negotiations in Brussels. These now move to
Guadalajara for one last push next week before the Summit.


12. (C) Ireland's strategy is to set textual and political
precedents for future association agreements between the EU
and the Latins/Caribbeans. They seek a "shift of focus" to
concentrate more on Monterrey Consensus goals and related
social, political and economic standards.


13. (C) The Latin side is resisting somewhat. Conlon said
that Argentina has been particularly difficult. Brazil began
positively, but has recently cooled. Chile has been
cooperative. Mexico, the host, is being helpful; President
Fox reportedly sent a letter to his Latin counterparts last
week laying out Mexico's hopes for the Declaration, but
Conlon could not share its contents. The Caribbean nations,
with significant interests divergent from the Latins, have
been cooperative, especially toward British, Irish, and Dutch
issues.


14. (C) Negotiations in Brussels hit snags recently that
led the EU to speculate whether Latin and Caribbean
negotiators were reflecting merely the wishes of foreign
ministries or were factoring in social and economic
ministries' points of view. Hoping to move things ahead, the
EU demarched all capitals in Latin American and the Caribbean
last week in the run up to the next round of negotiations in
Guadalajara next week, Conlon said.

ATTENDEES AND FORMAT OF DISCUSSIONS


15. (C) The Irish expect 15 of the 25 EU heads of
government to attend, including Germany's Chancellor
Schroeder, France's President Chirac, Spain's PM Zapatero,
Austria's Chancellor Schussel, Dutch PM Balkenende, and
Swedish PM Persson, as well as representatives from the new
EU 10 either at the Prime Minister or Foreign Minister level.
Cuba is expected to attend, though it is not clear if Castro
himself will travel, Conlon said.


16. (C) On May 27, Foreign Ministers will meet. On May 28,
Heads of Government will meet in three groups of 20 each that
will discuss the agenda and report back to a Plenary, where
they will adopt the Declaration. On May 29, in addition to
meeting with MERCOSUR, the EU plans troika meetings with the
Central American group, Andean group, CARIFORUM, Mexico, and
Chile.

COMMENT


17. (C) In addition to improved economic ties with Latin
American/Caribbean region, the EU hopes association
agreements, such as that planned with MERCOSUR and perhaps
others, could lead to improved political clout at the UN and
elsewhere. The EU's challenge will be to secure greater
Latin American commitment to the ambitious targets of the
Monterrey Consensus in exchange for greater access to EU
markets and political support.
KENNY