European, Latinamerican and Caribbean Social Encounter

TNI

May 2006

Conference Poster

European, Latinamerican and Caribbean Social Encounter
Linking Alternatives 2
Vienna, 10-13 May 2006
[Versión español]

Linking Alternatives 2 (Enlazando Alternativas) is being organised as a Social Encounter (Encuentro Social) in Vienna, Austria in May 2006 on the occasion of the Fourth Summit of the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean heads of State. This is an initiative of the bi-regional
network of European and Latin American social and civil society organisations launched during the Social Encounter held in Guadalajara, Mexico in May 2004. This a 4-day event (10-13 May 2006) will highlight the analysis of trends and developments in Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC); assess the significance of relations between both regions in the current neo-liberal global context; address the EU Trade Agreements in the region as well as the political role of EU TNCs in both Europe and LAC and showcase people's alternatives in development strategies and proposals.

Since May 2004, the Latin American-European bi-regional network has held a number of strategy meetings and Seminars: during the FSA in Quito, July 2004; ESF in London, October 2004; in Brussels, December 2004; WSF 5, Porto Alegre, January 2005; and in Brussels, June 2005.

The organisations within the network are co-operating in three key areas of work:

Economic (Trade Agreements, TNCs and Debt)
Co-operation relations EU-LAC
Peace and Demilitarisation

Solidarity relations and human rights are considered as cross-cutting issues in these three areas.

Initial proposals for Linking Alternatives 2 include a Conference and cultural activities focused on:

Significance of EU-LAC relations in the current global conjuncture
EU neo-liberal economic and political structural relations with LAC
Key role of TNC corporate lobby organisations towards policy structures of EU, and in EU-LA Agreements and Bi-lateral Investment Treaties (BITs)
Articulation of Alternatives - emerging alternatives on the ground and policy alternatives towards the EU and LAC governments

Within Linking Alternatives 2, a Session of the People's Tribunal will be held on the role of European TNCs corporate lobby in Europe and in Latin America.