ABSTRACT
Latin America was not a priority in the launching of European Community external relations. European interests centred on neighbouring countries, as well as the United States, and in the development and commercial aid offered to the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP). In spite of this, the European Parliament (EP) has developed contacts with Latin American governments and parliaments since the 1960s, well before other European institutions. How can this interest be explained? This chapter analyses the evolution of relations between the EP and Latin American partners in order to understand the motivations guiding the actions of its members regarding this region. The chapter argues that the reasons for the interest in Latin America are related to the need to increase the EP’s internal legitimacy in order to improve its legislative and accountability powers, as well as to specific national and economic interests concerning Iberian countries. The conclusions highlight the current state of this relation by considering the different political forces that prevail in each region.
