An “Aggressive” Cooperation: Environment as a Hot Issue in EU-LAC Relations

The main objective of this chapter is to analyse the significance of environmental concerns in the most recent diplomatic relations between the European Union (EU) and Latin America. The chapter begins with a discussion of theoretical premises addressing the relationship between environmental preservation from the perspective of philosophy of global ethics. The analysis then employs a comparative perspective between the EU and Mercosur to determine if the two regional blocs act as “normative powers” and “ethical agents” in green policies, either in their respective spheres of influence or in international relations. The chapter also analyses the relations between the EU and Latin America, and the EU-CELAC Action Plan. The final section of the article focuses more narrowly on the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, examining the environmental provisions of the agreement and exploring why green policy in particular is dragging down the ongoing negotiations.