12 November 2013: The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) signed a protocol with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) aimed at boosting structural change based on equality and sustainability.

ECLAC Executive Secretary Alicia Bárcena and Ingolf Dietrich, Deputy Director for Latin America and Global and Sectoral Affairs of BMZ (on behalf of Germany), signed the agreement, which has three main themes: innovation for sustainable structural change; social and climate protection; and sustainable energy and fiscal environmental policies.

The protocol, which covers the period 2014-2016, ensures that cooperation between ECLAC and BMZ continues, which, since 2006, has led to the implementation of four biennial programmes. This new agreement strengthens the strategic partnership forged by the two organizations over the past 30 years based on shared values aimed at supporting integration efforts, boosting technical and policy dialogue between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean, and promoting regional sustainability.

Following the signing of the protocol, ECLAC Executive Secretary Bárcena emphasized that economic growth, environmental sustainability and equality must go hand in hand. She said that “equality involves spreading capacity building, technical progress, full labour opportunities, and universal access to social safety nets and benefits throughout the production structure and social fabric.” She underscored that macroeconomic policy and industrial policy must be linked to build synergies, stating that this was the only way to tackle the “climate insecurity” affecting the planet, particularly island nations, such as those in the Caribbean. [ECLAC Press Release]