From Bolsonaro in Brazil to Vox in Spain, progressives, socialists and democrats will fight against right-wing, nationalist, and regressive forces in every corner of the world. This was the common mission set out today by progressive heads of state and government, European Commissioners and leaders.
Meeting in Brussels, Belgium, progressive leaders from the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) met to reinforce their political cooperation.
Meeting under the banner – Together for Global Justice – leaders exchanged on how to protect democratic institutions and safeguard social justice, equality for women, and sustainability for all citizens. Climate change, creating jobs, international peace, respect for international law, and the need to reform global governance were also on the agenda.
Looking ahead to the next battle in the fight against right-wing extremism, all leaders wished success to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the general election in Spain on Sunday.
PES President Stefan Löfven said:
“Across the globe, the shadow of right-wing extremism is growing. It threatens our democratic institutions. It stokes division and hatred. And it puts at risk the progress that has been achieved over the last decades. This is the fight we are seeing in Spain and why we wish every success to Pedro Sánchez ahead of the elections.
“I am very grateful for the participation of our progressive friends from Latin American and the Caribbean states today, so we can strengthen our shared progressive fight against rising extremism. We see the victories in Brazil and elsewhere, and we will build on that fightback.
“Through our unity, we are made stronger. That is why we are working to reinforce our cooperation with progressive CELAC leaders. By uniting, we can strengthen global democracy and create a fair climate transition which creates good jobs and reduces inequalities. That is how we ensure progressive change that benefits all and delivers for our planet.”
Meeting before the second day of the EU-CELAC Summit organised by the European Council, the PES event reaffirms our commitment to a strong EU-CELAC partnership. With this in view, the PES looks forward to the next Summit in Colombia in 2025 and will work towards another meeting on this occasion. The PES believes strongly in international cooperation for progress, such as through the 2023 UN SDG Summit and 2024 UN Summit for the Future.
European socialists support strengthened cooperation with the CELAC, building on existing relations and reflecting the strong historic ties between our continents. This cooperation is essential to progress key PES priorities, such as meeting our international climate obligations – as negotiated by European Commission Executive Vice President Frans Timmermans at UN COP summits – and implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Earlier this year, socialist EU High Representative Josep Borrell led the adoption, by the European Commission, of a Joint Communication setting out a New Agenda for Relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean. It sets out a stronger and modernised strategic partnership, through reinforced political engagement, boosting trade and investment, and building more sustainable, fair and inter-connected societies through Global Gateway investments.
Additionally, the EU’s Global Gateway – spearheaded by European Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen – can be a valuable tool to support the global economic recovery by connecting people and places in a sustainable way.
Pictures from the meeting are available on Flickr.
The meeting was attended by:
- Stefan Löfven, PES President
- Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of Germany
- Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain, President of Socialist International
- António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal
- Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark
- Lula da Silva, President of Brazil
- Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia
- Alberto Fernández, President of Argentina
- Gabriel Boric, President of Chile
- Alicia Bárcena, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico
- Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice President of the European Commission
- Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
- Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships
- Iratxe García, President of the S&D Group in the European Parliament
- Elly Schlein, Leader of PD Italy
- Achim Post, PES Secretary General
- Giacomo Filibeck, PES Executive Secretary General
