In recent years the already extensive network of relations between Germany and the states of Latin America and the Caribbean has been further expanded through a variety of political, economic, environmental, cultural and development policy initiatives. These initiatives have focused on: continuing intensive high-level political dialogue, supporting regional integration and relations with the European Union (EU) and promoting economic exchange.
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In 2009 the partnership between the EU and LAC, which includes all countries in the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean (roughly 1 billion people) turns ten years old. It is built on a common cultural inheritance as well as shared values, and encompasses cooperation in the fields of politics, economics, culture and science and technology.
Read more: EU relations with Latin America
The Latin American and Caribbean economies offer good prospects for continued and intensified German business, provided democracy, rule of law and good governance there continue to be strengthened and sound, growth-friendly economic policies are followed.
Read more: Economic exchange
Bilateral development cooperation with various Latin American and Caribbean countries is an important aspect of our relations. In the area of development cooperation, too, Germany has more local, church and private partnership initiatives with Latin America and the Caribbean than with any other world region.
Read more: Development cooperation
Human rights have become a core component of political value systems and democratic identity in Latin America. With few exceptions, Latin American countries embrace the international standards set down in universal and regional human rights agreements. The German Government is also working to improve the human rights situation in Latin America and to combat impunity for human rights violations.
Read more: Promoting human rights in Latin America
While English is definitely the foreign language of first choice in Latin America, there is strong interest in what Europe has to offer in the cultural sphere. Many Latin Americans with German roots (in Brazil over 5 million) have a personal interest in the German language, even if it is rarely their mother tongue. For this reason the status of German in some Latin American countries – notably in Brazil – is relatively good.
Read more: The German language in Latin America – stocktake and promotion
