It is "more important than ever" for Europe to strengthen its ties with regions that share its values and, in that sense, the Latin American region "should be considered as a natural ally", the Parliamentary Assembly said on 10 April. According to parliamentarians, 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".
The Council of Europe, they said, has "always supported the cause of freedom, democracy and the rule of law in Latin America", and reminded that in 2024, it awarded the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize to María Corina Machado.
Adopting a resolution based on the report prepared by Antonio Gutiérrez Limones (Spain, SOC), the Assembly paid tribute to the Mexican Congress as an observer to the work of the Assembly, and to Mexico as an observer state with the Council of Europe, both for more than 25 years. Mexico and its Congress should serve, the parliamentarians said, as "an inspiration to other countries and their national assemblies in the region".
Addressing the parliamentarians in the framework of the debate, the President of the Mexican Senate called for strengthening "a relationship based on respect, on reciprocity, on neighbourhood, also making sure that the principles that we share apply in all circumstances and under all situations", adding that Mexico and the Council of Europe share the respect for "the rule of law and human rights, equality, development and environment ", as well as "the fight against homophobia, racism or classism. We completely agree on those principles."
The Assembly welcomed the fruitful collaboration of the European Court of Human Rights with its regional counterparts, and encouraged them to further strengthen their joint efforts, "in particular with regard to the promotion of their regional instruments".
The parliamentarians called for a revival of the co-operation agreement signed with the Latin American and Caribbean Parliament (Parlatino) in 2008 and contribute to its implementation, by inviting the President of the Parlatino to attend and address the Assembly's plenary, inviting 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.
