Highlights
– Worldwide leaders assemble in Peru to tackle several critical issues
– Representatives focused on high food prices, climate change, trade and biofuels
– Leaders fail to establish concrete actions
– Citizens will unlikely experience change in the near term
On May 15 and 16 2008, 60 European Union (EU), Caribbean and Latin American countries representatives convened in Lima, Peru to discuss several topics including trade, climate change, and the elevated food prices worldwide. While the summit aims to improve conditions in all participating countries, officials concentrated on the extra assistance needed by Haiti, as it has experienced the most trouble due to its high level of poverty.
The convention was the fifth of its kind in 10 years. A joint declaration was created and issued at the end of the summit. While no concrete plans were established, the leaders stated that conventions are effective, and although nothing more than high-level debate was achieved, it allows ministers to follow up with “real work” after returning to their home countries.
Details of the Summit
One topic heavily discussed at the conference was the high costs of food. Various countries and institutions announced their plans to assist citizens with the rising prices. The EU Foreign Relations Commission stated it recently approved a package worth US$183 million for food assistance throughout the world. The Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) President also announced the institution has provided US$27 million worth of loans to keep food prices reduced in Haiti. Haiti has experienced some of the most violent clashes worldwide due to soaring food prices (Previous Report). Additionally, the IDB announced a new fund to improve agricultural productivity, improve socials networks and develop new technology.
A second issue representatives discussed was climate change. Reportedly, European leaders planned to present a proposal called “Euroclima,” which would identify strengths and weaknesses in the region regarding climate change. It would also set out to coordinate regional actions and increase efficiency and impact. Other ideas were also proposed. Peruvian President Alan Garcia suggested an oil and natural gas tax to raise money to pay for reforestation. Climate change was addressed in the final declaration emphasizing “environmental degradation and climate change seriously affect economic growth, hitting the poor hardest and seriously threatening the prospects for the world’s future.”
Unlike many other topics at the summit, officials differed on the subject of biofuels. The EU and Brazil agree that biofuels can help reduce countries’ reliance on both oil and greenhouse gases while some Latin American countries argue biofuels are leading to increased corn, rice and wheat prices subsequently “pushing citizens into deeper poverty.” Many experts have partly blamed biofuels for the global food crisis as farmers have converted from growing crops to biofuels. Analysts say poor weather conditions, higher fuel prices, and increased consumption in developing countries are also causes.
Finally, the EU took advantage of the summit by addressing trade. The EU is currently in talks with the Andean Community of Nations and Central America over the creation of free trade and the leaders hoped to advance negotiations during the summit. Several negotiations, however, remain frozen until the Doha Round of talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO) concludes. As the EU attempts to advance talks in the arena of trade, Bolivian President Evo Morales continues to stall negotiations as he disagrees with free trade. Morales is concerned free trade treaties will hurt poor farmers in his country.
Looking Ahead
The signed declaration released at the end of the conference emphasized the need for the international community to work together in order to improve conditions globally. While the summit identified common problems, the joint document failed to identify concrete plans to combat the challenges discussed at the meeting. Due to this, the meeting will unlikely provide more than general guidance for each country. It is unlikely citizens will experience any major changes in the near term as implementation of a plan will require time to develop. Furthermore, due to ideological differences among many countries in one or more of the areas, it will be difficult to find a solution that appeases everyone. World leaders plan to convene again in 2010 in Spain.
