Left parliamentarians and EuroLat progressives.
Joint Statement of the Latin American Left and Progressive Banks and European Union of EuroLat (European-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly)
(Brussels, November 30th to December 2nd, 2022)
The left and progressive parliamentarians from Latin America and Europe, who met during the meetings of the EuroLat standing parliamentary committees from 30 November to 2 December in Brussels:
1. They recall the importance of dialogue and diplomacy, which are the main way to resolve differences in our countries and are one of the pillars in building democracies in Latin America and in the European Union.
In this sense, they insist on the need to launch initiatives to end the escalation of confrontation and war, and to urgently open negotiation channels to achieve peace and a political solution to the war in Ukraine, respecting proper international law and the charter of the United Nations.
2. Urge that relations between the European Union and the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean are mutually beneficial and based on respect for the independence, sovereignty and autonomy of both parties. In this sense, they reject neocolonial and interventionist tendencies and attempts to create dependency relationships.
3. They condemn the policy of blockades and the unilateral sanctions, including economic, commercial and financial, which, when imposed unilaterally and contrary to international law against many Latin American countries, are also an expression of an imperialism that seeks to stifle the peoples who are internally, within the framework of its sovereignty, have decided to advance towards national policies that do not correspond to the interests of the large transnationals and the concentrated economic power.
The economic blockade of Cuba, which has lasted for more than 60 years, is the clearest example of this criminal policy of unilateral sanctions by the United States of America.
They are demanding theirs, particularly from the United States of America and the European Union
instant lifting.
4. They reaffirm that States have an obligation to ensure access to fundamental lifelong rights such as the right to health, education, access to drinking water for both human consumption and irrigation, and various activities that require this vital element of access on decent housing, among other things.
In a world where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, they are calling for a better distribution of wealth and more social justice.
5. They stand in solidarity with the workers and peoples of the world who are struggling for a better world of cooperation and peace. They support the struggles of the workers and peoples of different European countries against the increase in the cost of living, for better wages and pensions and for better living and working conditions.
6. They celebrate the consolidation of alternative models of progress, national development, greater social justice and happiness for our peoples. Alberto Fernández in Argentina; Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico; Xiomara Castro, in Honduras; Pedro Castillo, in Peru; Luis Arce, in Bolivia; Gabriel Boric in Chile and recent victories by Gustavo Petro in Colombia and Lula da Silva in Brazil are experiences that have and will continue to focus on workers and the most disadvantaged.
7. They support Colombia’s total peace project as a fundamental step towards consolidating regional peace in the Andean region and Latin America.
8. Condemn the illegal occupation by the United Kingdom of the Malvinas, South Georgia, the South Sandwich Islands and the sea areas surrounding them. They accompany the Argentine Republic’s request for the United Kingdom to recognize Argentine sovereignty over these islands.
9. They conclude that throughout Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe we must promote the broadest and most solid unity, cooperation and collaboration of left and progressive forces.