Boost or backlash? EU member states and the EU's Latin America policy in the post-Lisbon era

Abstract

This chapter assesses the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the EU's relations with Latin America. In particular, it focuses on the interaction between the EU and three important Member States: Germany, Spain, and the UK. Given the importance of these three Member States within the EU in general and, especially in the case of Spain, in relations with Latin America in particular, they should be particularly instructive. This chapter assesses three dimensions of policy-making towards Latin America upon which the Lisbon Treaty might have an effect. The first is the 'home' dimension and concerns policy-making in the respective Foreign Ministries. Are Member States more constrained than previously in their relations with Latin America? Does the Lisbon Treaty provide an opportunity to 'outsource' aspects of policy to the EU? Or does it cause a 'backlash' effect, leading to greater national assertiveness? This should be particularly relevant for countries with weaker direct interests in Latin America. The 'Brussels' dimension refers to the interaction between domestic and EU policy. Does the Lisbon Treaty diminish the Member States' opportunities to influence the EU's policy towards the region? Are there substantial changes in the policy itself? This aspect should be especially relevant for Spain: can it maintain its traditionally strong influence at the EU level? Finally, the 'Latin American' dimension concerns European representation on the ground. What does the establishment of the EU's External Action Service (EEAS) mean for Member States' activities in Latin America itself? Does the EU take a more active role, and are the Member States concerned about this? Or do they rather see it as an opportunity to 'outsource' representation, especially in times of budgetary constraints? This might be particularly relevant to the UK, which has a relatively weak policy towards Latin America and might be able to use the EEAS to strengthen its profile or delegate responsibilities. By triangulating interview data with government and EU documents, I assess the push and pull factors the Lisbon Treaty exerts on Member States' relations with the EU's Latin American policy and on Member States' own relations with the region. While relations with Latin America are just one example, they should also be instructive for links with other regions.