Twenty-five nations get ready to attend the XLVII Latin American Council of SELA

The Latin American Council, the top decision maker of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA), gathers annually its Member States to outline the general policies of the organization and adopt by consensus certain resolutions. This year, the edition number 47 will take place in Caracas headquarters on 29 and 30 November 2021.

In the upcoming meeting chaired nowadays by Mexico, Member States are expected to assess and approve the work programme for 2022, the annual report submitted by the Permanent Secretariat as the executive body, and the budget and financial statements of the organization. Also, the activities carried out by the Permanent Secretariat and by the action committees will be reviewed.

In this way, the delegations of Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Perú, the Dominican Republic, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela are to redefine the course of the organization.

The Latin American Council is entitled to approve common stances and strategies on economic and social topics, both in international bodies and forums and before third countries or groups of countries.

Every decision on the construction of the Panama Convention establishing SELA and any amendments proposed by Member States are heard and resolved in the meeting of the Latin American Council as the main deliberative body of SELA.

About the Permanent Secretariat and the Committees

As the technical-administrative body of SELA, the Permanent Secretariat fosters and conducts preliminary studies, and identifies and promotes certain projects in the interest of two or more Member States.

The Permanent Secretariat performs the functions entrusted by the Latin American Council and, as appropriate, enforces its decisions. In addition, the Permanent Secretariat submits for the consideration of the top decision maker selected programmes and projects in the common interest; suggests the method of implementation and some other actions, including expert meetings, to attain the goals of SELA.

The Permanent Secretariat is headed by the Permanent Secretariat, elected by the Latin American Council for a four-year term.

As regard the Action Committees, they are established at the request of two or more Member States on the basis of cooperation to further joint programmes and projects in certain areas. They are either dissolved after having accomplished their mission or may become standing committees.