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RIO GROUP Rio Group Operation in Order to Enhance Economic, Social, Scientific and Technological Development

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RIO GROUP Rio Group Operation in Order to Enhance Economic, Social, Scientific and Technological Development R A RIO GROUP Rio Group operation in order to enhance economic, social, scientific and technological development. The liber- The Group represents a regional forum for political alization of regional trade and the establishment of consultation and policy co-ordination on major a free trade area are also among the objectives of the topics on the international agenda among 19 Latin Group. American and Caribbean countries. Structure Origin and development The Group has no legal status and no permanent The Group was established at a meeting of eight headquarters. The annual summits of the Heads of Latin American Heads of State, held at Rio de State and regular meetings of the Foreign Ministers Janeiro on 18 December 1986, as a Permanent share the decision-making power. The Secretariat Mechanism of Political Consultation and Co-ordina- rotates between member countries according to the tion. Initially known as the ‘Group of Eight’, the location of the summit meeting. Mechanism was the result of the fusion of the Contadora Group (Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Activities Venezuela) and the Support Group (Argentina, The Veracruz Act of March 1999 consolidated the Brazil, Peru and Uruguay), both concerned with objectives and principles that had materialized political crises in Central America. Regional security within the framework of the Group and stressed the arrangements and debt and development issues importance of promoting democracy, protecting were the main focus of the Mechanism. human rights and intensifying the fight against Panama was suspended from participation in terrorism, corruption and drug trafficking. Over the October 1988, expelled in March 1990, and later past few years measures have been considered to readmitted after the return of a democratic govern- reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers and to start a ment. The eight founder members have been progressive co-ordination of macroeconomic poli- progressively joined by other Central American and cies. South American countries. The gradual enlarge- ment of the Rio Group (as the Mechanism has External relations become generally known since the early 1990s) has The political and economic dialogue between the enhanced its importance as a framework for intra- Group and the European Union (EU), institutionalized Latin American consultation and negotiation and in December 1990 through regular meetings, is joint political action vis-à-vis third countries and based on the tightening of political ties, the step- major multilateral institutions. ping-up of economic integration and free trade and the focusing of co-operation on priority areas. Co- Membership operation is also being developed in the areas of The Group consists of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, social reform, consolidation of civil society, support Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, for the private sector, and culture, education, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, science and technology. Increased investment and Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, technology transfers and trade liberalization on the Uruguay and Venezuela, plus Guyana that part of EU members have been repeatedly urged by currently represents the countries of the Caribbean. the Group. The last Ministerial Conferences between the Group and the EU have dealt with Objectives several key issues including sustainable develop- The Group aims to expand political co-operation ment; trade and investment; social cohesion and among member countries, to expedite the process of democratic governance; drug-trafficking; and the Latin American integration and promote co-ordina- fight against transnational crime and terrorism. tion among Latin American organizations, to The further development and effectiveness of the present appropriate solutions to the problems and activities of the Group will depend also on closer co- conflicts affecting the region, to strengthen the ordination with other regional bodies such as the initiatives and actions undertaken to improve inter- Latin American Economic System (SELA) and the Latin American relations, and to explore new fields of co- American Integration Association (LAIA). G. Schiavone, International Organizations 280 © Giuseppe Schiavone 2005.
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