The Ibero-American Summit ended with a consensus on four main objectives, which were the environmental charter, digital, food security and financial architecture. The latter was the topic of discussion up until the last moment. Additionally, agreements were reached on the third quadrennial action plan for cooperation 2023-2027, gender equality and democracy promotion. The importance of new migration regulations, coordination of the fight against transnational crime, and a fairer system were also discussed. The participating countries expressed deep concern about the situation in Haiti and energy transition, marine sustainability, the Cuban embargo and the situation in the Falklands were also discussed.
Important themes of the summit included immigration, support for Haiti and the revival of relations between Latin America and the European Union (EU), according to the general secretary of Ibero-America, Andrés Allamand, during the final press conference. Allamand underlined the importance of immigration and announced the idea of organising a conference on immigration during the third quarter of this year. As for the situation in Haiti, Allamand stressed that it has become an important issue for the Ibero-American community, and that there will be no solution for the Caribbean country without pacification.
The next summit will be held on November 29, 2024, in Quito, with the theme “Innovation, inclusion and sustainability in Ibero-America.” Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso spoke during the press conference and accepted the challenge, referring to three major topics that will be discussed at the forum: promotion of circular economies, food security and ecological transition.
Finally, the main stumbling block of this summit was the commitment to creating a new financial architecture to help recover from the consequences of the pandemic and deal with the difficult international situation. It was agreed to give visibility to the issue of financial architecture to mitigate external debt, and it will now be up to the finance and treasury ministers to work on this project.
The Ibero-American Summit ended this Saturday with a consensus on its four main objectives: the environmental charter, digital, food security and financial architecture, the latter having been the most discussed until the last moment.
Besides, the Ibero-American heads of state and government reached agreements on other topics such as the third quadrennial action plan for cooperation 2023-2027, the decision to promote gender equality and the commitment to promote democracy.
During the final press conference, the host of the summit, Dominican President Luis Abinader, said that the Heads of State and Government had also made commitments in matters of international law, particularly with regard to the principle of sovereignty, non-intervention in affairs between States and their legal equality.
They also agreed on the importance of new migration regulations which respects the human rights of migrants, the coordination of the fight against transnational crime and the need for a fairer system.
The 22 participating countries expressed their “deep concern” about the situation in Haiti and expressed their full solidarity with the Caribbean country.
The energy transition, marine sustainability, the Cuban embargo and the situation in the Falklands were also discussed.
Immigration, Haiti and EU-Latin America relations
Immigration, support for Haiti and the revival of relations between Latin America and the European Union (EU) were among the important themes of the summit, according to the general secretary of Ibero-America, Andrés Allamand, during the final press conference.
Mr. Allamand underlined the importance of immigration, which affects all regions of the world and in particular the Ibero-American community.
The Ibero-American Secretary General announced that, as part of the search for solutions, the summit had put forward the idea of organizing a conference on immigration during the third quarter of this year, although the venue and date have yet to be determined.
As for the situation in Haiti, Mr. Allamand stressed that it “has become an important issue for the Ibero-American community” and corroborated Abinader’s idea that there will be no solution for the Caribbean country without pacification.
“The preliminary step to ideas such as the creation of institutions and the normalization of the country is its pacification”, he reiterated.
As regards relations between the EU and Latin America, he underlined the intervention at the summit of the head of European diplomacy, the Spaniard Josep Borrell.
“We want the Spanish presidency of the European Union in the second half of the year to be an impetus. It has been eight years since we have met between the two regions at a political level”, said Allamand, who hopes that unfinished deals will be closed, that negotiations will not last forever and that investments will be strongly supported in both directions.
The EU wants to take over and build on the momentum of the #iberoamerican summit to continue advancing with more political dialogue and boost our relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 25, 2023
The next summit in Quito
Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso spoke during the press conference on the next summit to be held on November 29, 2024 in Quito, on the theme “Innovation, inclusion and sustainability in Ibero-America”.
“Ecuador accepts the challenge”, said Mr. Lasso, who referred to three other major topics that will be discussed at the regional forum: the promotion of circular economies, food security and ecological transition.
“The challenges require joint action by all members of the Ibero-American community”, said Mr. Lasso, who called for “looking with hope” at the region’s unity.
Financial architecture, the main stumbling block
The main stumbling block of this summit was the commitment to create a new financial architecture to help recover from the consequences of the pandemic and deal with the difficult international situation.
It is only at lunch that he was agreed to give visibility to the issue of financial architecture to mitigate external debt.
More Mr. Abinader insisted that it was more a matter of form than of substance, and that it will now be up to the finance and treasury ministers to work on this project.
In summary, the Ibero-American Summit has come to a consensus on its four main objectives, including environmental charter, digital, food security, and financial architecture. Despite being the subject of much discussion, the leaders ultimately agreed on commitments in matters of international law and new migration regulations. They also expressed their concern about Haiti and pledged solidarity with the country. Another major theme of the summit was the revival of relations between Latin America and the European Union, which garnered attention from both sides. As we look forward to the next summit in Quito, we can hope for continued unity and joint action in facing the challenges of this region. Despite the main stumbling block being financial architecture, progress has been made, and the finance and treasury ministers will be working on this project going forward.