Social Cohesion in the EU-Latin America/Caribbean strategic partnership

What is social cohesion?

Social cohesion means the fight against poverty, inequality and social exclusion. Social cohesion has become a major field of cooperation for the EU-LAC partnership, since the 3rd EU-LAC Summit held in Guadalajara in May 2004 also with the adoption and since then implementation of the EurosociAL programme.

Social cohesion is a main priority policy for the EU in its relation with Latin America. To this end the Commission / EU has regular and specific dialogues with its Latin American partners on social cohesion and it has prioritized social cohesion in all its aid and development cooperation programmes, with the region, with the sub-regions and individual countries in Latin America.

The objective of social cohesion was also recognized as a shared goal and priority area of the relations between the two regions, at the EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit of Heads of States and Governments at Vienna (May 2006).

In preparation of the EU-LAC Summit in Vienna and for the first time, a High Level EU-LAC Forum on Social Cohesion was held in Brussels in March 2006 which discussed the efforts to combat social inequality, poverty and exclusion in Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union. The forum focused on the need for integrated strategies for social cohesion, the development of cooperation programmes and mobilization of public policies in support of social cohesion.

The EU-LAC Heads of State and Government in Vienna (May 2006) welcomed the initiative of periodically organizing Social Cohesion Fora to stimulate dialogue and cooperation between the two regions (which is reflected in the Vienna Declaration, paragraph 38).

The next EU-LAC Forum on Social Cohesion is scheduled on 23/25 September Santiago de Chile.

In the European Union’s Social Policy Agenda (COM (2000) 379), social cohesion is defined as an objective: “To prevent and eradicate poverty and exclusion and promote the integration and participation of all in economic and social life.”

Concern about social cohesion has highlighted the multi-dimensional nature of poverty. We can no longer measure welfare solely in terms of per capita GDP. Growth may be a necessary condition for development but it is not a sufficient condition.

High per capita incomes in the European Union and in certain Latin American and Caribbean countries (relative to other developing countries) do not necessarily mean lower levels of inequality or poverty. Just as important as income are access to education, healthcare, basic infrastructure such as drinking water, decent jobs and participation in political and social life. The inability to find a role in society, the poor political representation and the lack of access to justice have all too often been overlooked as exclusion factors.

Using an approach based on social cohesion makes it easier to identify by what mechanisms people come to be marginalised.

Exclusion is often reinforced by open and more subtle forms of discrimination on grounds of gender, race, social status, ethnic origin etc. Geographical location can also strongly influence levels of social inclusion; national cohesion can be threatened when regional inequalities within a country become more pronounced.

An understanding of identity and individuals’ backgrounds provides an essential insight into marginalisation. It is part of the process of building social cohesion.

The state has a fundamental role to play in guaranteeing a degree of social cohesion. While it must not ignore the need for macro-economic stability and sound public finances, the state can make the tax system fairer and more progressive. It can change the way public money is spent to achieve greater redistribution and repair holes in the social fabric (i.e. exclusion). It can also promote social cohesion by focusing on delivering higher levels of social protection for all.

Measures to foster participatory democracy are also a crucial part of strengthening social cohesion. It is essential that, alongside representative democracy, the public is involved in decision-making through consultation with civil-society organisations.