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Strengthening relations between the Council of Europe and Latin America

Doc. 16129: compendium of written amendments | Doc. 16129 | 10/04/2025 | Final version

Contents

A Draft Resolution
B Draft Recommendation

Compendium index

Amendment 4 Amendment 5 Amendment 6 Amendment 7 Amendment 1 Sub-amendment 1 to amendment 1 Amendment 2 Sub-amendment 1 to amendment 2 Amendment 3

Caption: AdoptedRejectedWithdrawnNo electronic votes

ADraft Resolution

1Europe and Latin America share multidimensional ties: the Parliamentary Assembly, in its Resolution 390 (1968) “Relations with Latin America”, already recalled that “the many bonds linking Europe and Latin America are not simply the result of the economic realities of the modern world, but also of their heritage of civilisation”. Indeed, their cultures, politics and economies are deeply intertwined, and the links forged during more than five centuries of common history have facilitated the exchange of ideas, traditions and values across the Atlantic Ocean.
2With some exceptions, countries and organisations in the Latin American region share the same fundamental values that lie at the heart of the Council of Europe: the universality of human rights, the irreplaceable nature of democracy and the primacy of the rule of law over the rule of might.
3The Council of Europe has already institutionalised relations and established contacts with several regional organisations and institutions in Latin America:
3.1a Co-operation Agreement was signed in 2008 between the Assembly and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino);
3.2a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Council of Europe and the Organization of American States (OAS) in 2011;
3.3the European Court of Human Rights, together with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, adopted the San José Declaration in 2018, establishing a Permanent Forum of Institutional Dialogue;
3.4dialogue and co-operation activities have been developed with the Ibero-American System and its Sectoral Organizations.
4The Council of Europe also has bilateral relations with a number of Latin American countries. Mexico is the country with the strongest ties with the Organisation, considering that, since 1999, it enjoys observer status with the Council of Europe and the Mexican Congress enjoys observer status with the Assembly. Other Latin American countries co-operate with the Council of Europe, for example through the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission): since 2002, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Peru have joined the Venice Commission as members, and Argentina and Uruguay as observers.

10 April 2025

Tabled by Mr Pablo HISPÁN, Ms Belén HOYO, Ms Carmen LEYTE, Mr Gonzalo ROBLES, Mr Javier MAROTO

Votes: 36 in favor 1 against 2 abstentions

In the draft resolution, before paragraph 4, insert the following paragraph:

"The Council of Europe has always supported the cause of freedom, democracy and the rule of law in Latin America. In 2024, it awarded the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize to María Corina Machado, a human rights activist campaigning against the dictatorship in Venezuela."

10 April 2025

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

Votes: 37 in favor 1 against 2 abstentions

In amendment 1, second sentence, delete the following words:

", a human rights activist campaigning against the dictatorship in Venezuela"

5The existing links between Europe and Latin America are particularly relevant in the current volatile and uncertain geopolitical context. The rules-based international order is under attack, and at the same time, the global challenges requiring a common international response based on multilateralism and co-operation are growing: geopolitical conflicts and threats to international security, climate change and environmental degradation, energy transition and the management of relevant natural resources, mass migrations, health risks, and the use of artificial intelligence.

10 April 2025

Tabled by Mr Pablo HISPÁN, Ms Belén HOYO, Ms Carmen LEYTE, Mr Gonzalo ROBLES, Mr Javier MAROTO

Votes: 35 in favor 2 against 0 abstention

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 5, insert the following paragraph:

"As in some member States of the Council of Europe, democracy in Latin America suffers from the threat of polarisation, radicalism and foreign interference. As in Belarus in the past, the Venezuelan dictatorship has not recognised the victory of the democratic opposition in the 2024 elections."

10 April 2025

Tabled by the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy

Votes: 37 in favor 2 against 0 abstention

In amendment 2, delete the second sentence.

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6The Assembly considers that it is more important than ever for Europe to strengthen its ties with regions that share its values. The Latin American region should be considered as a natural ally. While the existing partnerships with multilateral organisations and countries in Latin America should be strengthened, the Council of Europe should also seek to develop dialogue and new forms of co-operation in the region.
7The Assembly recalls that in the Reykjavik Declaration, the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe committed to strengthening the role of the Organisation in global governance by enhancing its external dimension, through a new engagement based on its core values with democracies in the world. They also underlined the need to promote increased ratification of Council of Europe conventions that are open to non-member States, extending the outreach of the Organisation to non-member countries also through the active contribution of observer States, and called for more political dialogue with other international organisations.

10 April 2025

Tabled by Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ms Iryna KONSTANKEVYCH, Mr Bob De BRABANDERE, Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Mr Markus WIECHEL, Mr Rostyslav TISTYK, Ms Birutė VĖSAITĖ

Votes: 14 in favor 25 against 1 abstention

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 7, insert the following paragraph:

"The Assembly strongly condemns the authoritarian regime of Nicolás Maduro for systematically dismantling democratic institutions, perpetrating egregious human rights violations, and orchestrating fraudulent elections that have subverted the will of the Venezuelan people. Once a prosperous nation, Venezuela is now suffering from a severe economic, social, and humanitarian crisis, brought on by the actions of this oppressive regime. The Assembly also recognises the courage and resilience of the democratic opposition of Venezuela, particularly its leader María Corina Machado, who continues to stand against the authoritarian regime despite repression, threats, and systematic persecution."

8The Assembly pays tribute to the important contributions made by the observer delegation of the Mexican Congress to the work of the Assembly, and to the role played by Mexico as a State that has observer status with the Council of Europe, for more than 25 years. It therefore invites Mexico and its Congress to continue to promote the work and standards of the Council of Europe, and to serve as an inspiration for other countries and their national assemblies in the region that might be interested in strengthening their relations with the Organisation.

10 April 2025

Tabled by Mr Pablo HISPÁN, Ms Belén HOYO, Ms Carmen LEYTE, Mr Gonzalo ROBLES, Mr Javier MAROTO

Votes: 11 in favor 27 against 2 abstentions

In the draft resolution, at the end of paragraph 8, insert the following words:

"The Assembly, with deep worry, views the judicial reforms made in Mexico as a threat to the independence of the justice system and recommends that the Mexican authorities consider the advice of the Venice Commission."

9In line with these considerations, and building on Resolution 2581 (2025) “The need for a renewed rules-based international order”, the Assembly calls on Council of Europe member States and observer States to:
9.1strengthen their relations with relevant multilateral organisations in Latin America, in particular the OAS and the Ibero-American System, through high-level meetings, sectoral agreements, technical co-operation activities, exchange of expertise and joint events, with a view to:
9.1.1upholding multilateralism and the respect for international law;
9.1.2promoting and protecting human rights;
9.1.3countering the backsliding of democracy;
9.1.4promoting the principles of the rule of law;
9.1.5addressing the impact of pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity;
9.1.6addressing the impact of new technologies and artificial intelligence;
9.2engage in a dialogue with Latin American States, to promote Council of Europe standards and technical expertise and to encourage their accession to the enlarged agreements, enlarged partial agreements and conventions that are open to non-member States of the Council of Europe, such as the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225), the Venice Commission, and the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group).

10 April 2025

Tabled by Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Mr Bob De BRABANDERE, Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Mr Markus WIECHEL, Mr Rostyslav TISTYK, Ms Birutė VĖSAITĖ

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 9.2, insert the following paragraph:

"hold Nicolás Maduro accountable for his crimes, support the legitimate Venezuelan opposition and impose strict sanctions on the regime to weaken its grip on power and help restore democracy in Venezuela."

10 April 2025

Tabled by Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ms Iryna KONSTANKEVYCH, Mr Bob De BRABANDERE, Mr Markus WIECHEL, Mr Rostyslav TISTYK, Ms Birutė VĖSAITĖ

In the draft resolution, after paragraph 9.2, insert the following paragraph:

"impose sanctions on Cuban officials and entities involved in subversive activities and enhance their support for the Cuban people in their steadfast pursuit of freedom, democracy, and human rights."

10The Assembly welcomes the fruitful collaboration of the European Court of Human Rights with its regional counterparts, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and encourages them to further strengthen their joint efforts, in particular with regard to the promotion of their regional instruments, the sharing of their jurisprudence with national courts, and the available mechanisms for monitoring the enforcement of judgments.
11Convinced of the importance of inter-parliamentary dialogue and diplomacy in building bridges across continents, ensuring the cross-fertilisation of ideas, and protecting and strengthening democracy, human rights and the rule of law, the Assembly resolves to:
11.1revive the Co-operation Agreement signed with the Latin American Parliament in 2008 and contribute to its implementation, by:
11.1.1inviting the President of the Parlatino, at appropriate intervals, to attend and address the Assembly’s plenary during its part-sessions;
11.1.2inviting a delegation from the Parlatino to attend the Assembly’s part-sessions, conferences and other events, whenever appropriate, and organising joint ad hoc meetings on matters of common interest;
11.1.3exchanging official documentation and putting its expertise on parliamentary practice and procedure at the disposal of the Parlatino and its members;
11.2enter into a dialogue with the ParlAmericas, the independent network comprised of national legislatures of the member States of the OAS, to assess possible areas of collaboration on matters of common interest.
12The Assembly encourages national parliaments from the Latin American region to explore the strengthening of their relations with the Assembly, with a view to submitting a request for observer status with the Assembly.
13With regard to the general outreach of the Council of Europe in the Latin American region, the Assembly recognises the value of having available and updated texts and information regarding the Organisation translated into Spanish, and recommends that this effort be continued whenever possible.

BDraft Recommendation

1The Parliamentary Assembly draws the Committee of Ministers’ attention to its Resolution …. (2025) “Strengthening relations between the Council of Europe and Latin America”, in which it underlines that Europe and Latin America share multidimensional ties as well as the same fundamental values: the universality of human rights, the irreplaceable nature of democracy and the primacy of the rule of law over the rule of might.
2The existing links between Europe and Latin America are particularly relevant in the current volatile and uncertain geopolitical context. The rules-based international order is under attack, and at the same time, the global challenges requiring a common international response based on multilateralism and co-operation are growing: geopolitical conflicts and threats to international security, climate change and environmental degradation, energy transition and the management of relevant natural resources, mass migrations, health risks, and the use of artificial intelligence.
3The Assembly recalls that the Council of Europe has already institutionalised relations and established contacts with several regional organisations and institutions in Latin America:
3.1a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Council of Europe and the Organization of American States (OAS) in 2011;
3.2the European Court of Human Rights together with the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, adopted the San José Declaration in 2018, establishing a Permanent Forum of Institutional Dialogue;
3.3dialogue and co-operation activities have been developed with the Ibero-American System and its Sectoral Organizations;
3.4a Co-operation Agreement was signed in 2008 between the Assembly and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).
4The Assembly considers that it is more important than ever for Europe to strengthen its ties with regions that share its values. The Latin American region should be considered as a natural ally. While the existing partnerships with multilateral organisations and countries in Latin America should be strengthened, the Council of Europe should also seek to develop dialogue and new forms of co-operation in the region. In the light of the above, and building on the Reykjavik Declaration, the Assembly invites the Committee of Ministers to:
4.1further strengthen the relations of the Council of Europe with relevant multilateral organisations in Latin America, in particular the OAS and the Ibero-American System, through high-level meetings, sectoral agreements, technical co-operation activities, exchange of expertise and joint events, with a view to:
4.1.1upholding multilateralism and the respect for international law;
4.1.2promoting and protecting human rights;
4.1.3countering the backsliding of democracy;
4.1.4promoting the principles of the rule of law;
4.1.5addressing the impact of pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity;
4.1.6addressing the impact of new technologies and artificial intelligence;
4.2engage in a dialogue with States from the Latin American region, to promote Council of Europe standards and technical expertise and to encourage their accession to the enlarged agreements, enlarged partial agreements and conventions that are open to non-member States of the Council of Europe, such as the Council of Europe Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (CETS No. 225), the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), and the Council of Europe International Co-operation Group on Drugs and Addictions (Pompidou Group).

10 April 2025

Tabled by Ms Olena KHOMENKO, Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Mr István HOLLIK, Ms Iryna KONSTANKEVYCH, Ms Cristina Gabriella DUMITRESCU, Mr Markus WIECHEL, Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Mr Serhii SOBOLIEV, Ms Mariia MEZENTSEVA-FEDORENKO, Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Ms Larysa BILOZIR, Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Ms Orinta LEIPUTĖ, Mr Serhii KALCHENKO

Votes: 31 in favor 5 against 3 abstentions

In the draft recommendation, at the end of paragraph 4.2, insert the following words:

", and the enlarged partial agreement on the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, once it is established".