Today, the Socialists and Democrats Group adopted a declaration on strengthening relations between Europe and Latin America, on the occasion of the first Latin America Day hosted by the S&D Group in the European Parliament, in the presence of former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

The leader of the S&D Group, Iratxe García Pérez announced that her parliamentary group will sign a memorandum of understanding with the Brazilian Workers’ Party to advance a joint strategic agenda. For the signature of the document, Iratxe García Pérez will travel to Brazil together with a delegation of S&D MEPs.

Building on the success of today’s event, the S&D Group will organise a week dedicated to Latin America in the European Parliament during the Spring of 2022   - the Latin America Days - to further deepen the cooperation between progressive forces on both sides of the Atlantic.

Iratxe García Pérez, S&D leader, said:

“Europe and Latin America are connected through the deep roots of friendship, history and values. These roots remain alive thanks to numerous international treaties, but we have to do more. Today, we reiterate our commitment to work together for closer relations and for strategic cooperation to face joint challenges: the fragility of democracies due to the encroaching far right, disinformation and populism, but also growing inequalities, climate change and the loss of biodiversity, as well as the weakening of multilateral institutions.

“With this memorandum of understanding we will also address the digital revolution, gender equality, how to regulate international trade so that it benefits human progress, the Agenda 2030, as well as the fight against tax havens, without forgetting the strengthening of the rule of law and the defence of human rights.

“The epoch of austerity is finally coming to an end and a new era of social democracy is dawning in Europe and Latin America. The pandemic has driven home the lesson that we must strengthen the government and public services. This is why we must use the post-Covid-19 recovery as an opportunity to reduce inequalities and safeguard public policies. This is what President Lula did during his presidency: he reduced poverty, improved health care and education for the working classes. For these achievements, he continues to be an inspiration for the left in Latin America and Europe.

“We conveyed to President Lula the unconditional support of our group for restoring democracy and dignity to the Brazilian people at the next elections. His fight is not only crucial for Brazilian democracy, but for all democracies in the world, which are threatened by the rise of authoritarianism.”

Read the Declaration in EN here
Read the Declaration in ES here
Read the Declaration in PT here