Mario Lubetkin, Enrique Iglesias, Juan Pablo de Laiglesia. Credit: Jesus Mendo/IPS.

In the framework of the recent European Union-Latin America/Caribbean Summit (EU-LAC), IPS – Inter Press Service and the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a media roundtable in Madrid “Europe and Latin America, strategic allies in the global debate?”. The event was held in the head office of the Ibero-American General Secretariat (SEGIB) with the participation of governments, international organizations executives and journalists of both regions.

Enrique Iglesias, SEGIB Secretary General, and Federico Mayor, IPS Chair, opened the roundtable. The first panel dedicated to “Alliances for a new global equilibrium, partnerships and perspectives for commercial exchanges” was moderated by IPS Director General Mario Lubetkin, and presentations were given by Juan Pablo De la Iglesia, Secretary of State for Iberoamerica of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Vergara, Regional Advisor, Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Rene Castro, Costa Rican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Martin Prada, European Commission Director for External Affairs, Mario Pezzini acting Director of the OECD Development Centre and Victorio Taccetti Vice Minister of the Argentinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The second panel was dedicated to “A bet for the future. Advantages, obstacles and risks of a strategic alliance. Possible financial and commercial horizons. A reinforced global presence” moderated by IPS Latin American director Joaquin Costanzo, with participation from several major European and Latin American media like Excelsior (Mexico), El Clarin (Argentina), Folha de San Paolo (Brazil), De Morgen (Belgium), Suddeutsche Zeitung (Germany), Il Manifesto (Italy), Le Monde (France), BBC Global News (U.K.) among others.

Satisfaction was expressed by participants and organizers who emphasized the need to strengthen alliances in order to have a louder voice in the international negotiation sphere.

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Por Jose Antonio Gurriaran

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Roundtable overview. Credit: Jesus Mendo/IPS