The EU-LAC strategic partnership under revision: towards a more differentiated relationship

Abstract

ABSTRACT In 1999, at their first inter-regional Summit, the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) established a Strategic Partnership. Two decades later, the attempt to create a more horizontal relationship has not been successful, because the one-size-fits-all approach does not respond to the increasing heterogeneity of the region divided into high income, low and upper middle-income countries. Those states that are still qualifying as recipients of EU aid face two major development problems: inequality and insecurity. Brussels addresses these challenges by two recent paradigms: development in transition and the security-development nexus. As a litmus test for reducing inequalities and insecurity, the authors ask whether Latin America will experience a comeback in EU development policy under these new labels, and if they offer an opportunity to reactivate declining relations by a more appropriate differentiated country-wise response that replaces traditional inter-regionalism.