USEFUL LinkS

Central America

·        Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica  (Central American Bank for Economic Integration) CABEI is the multilateral bank for the integration and development of Central America, whose purpose is to contribute in the raising of the quality of life of the population, providing financial and technical cooperation resources, so as to satisfy the needs of these countries within a culture of service and regional vision.

• Centroamérica Adelante Journal published by PARLACEN (Central American Common Market).

• Parlamento Centroamericano  (PARLACEN) Central American Parliament.

• SICA - Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana SICA (Central American Integration System) is an international organization integrated by the republics of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Panama.  SICA coordinates and implements the mandates of the presidential summits and the decisions of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
• Central American Summits Collection of official documents agreed upon during the SICA summits, since 1986.
• Documents of the Central American Union SICA’s documents, speeches, and declarations.
• SICA News Daily news service with news related to SICA.

• SIECA - Secretaría de Integración Económica Centroamericana SIECA is the administrative and economic organ of the process of Central American integration.  SIECA was created in 1960 and it is headquartered in Guatemala.  It coordinates the relations among all the institutions of the integration process, as well as SICA’s Secretariat.
• SIECA - Secretaría Permanente del Tratado de Integración Económica Centroamericana

General

• Base de Datos de Instituciones Especializadas en Iberoamérica (IDAT)   The Data Base of Institutions Specialized in Iberia-America (IDAT) has information of public and private institutions, foundations, non-governmental organizations, associations, and other institutions that conduct research on Latin American topics.  This data base provides the names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, fuctional organization, themes, and goals of each institution.  Organized by institution, country, city, and theme.

• Casa de América The House of América is an institution based in Madrid (Spain) that fosters research, discussion forums, and cultural programs on Latin American issues.

·        Centro de Formación para la Integración Regional CEFIR  The Formation Center for Regional Integration is a joint project of the European Union and the Rio Group to promote the exchange of knowledge and experience between Europe and Latin America for the formulation, implementation and execution of public policies related to regional integration.

·        Comunidad Andina The Andean Community (former Andean Pact) is a subregional organization integrated by Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela and by the organs and institutions of the Andean Integration System.  The Andean System rested originally on the principle of import substitution, but has evolved into a project based on the principle of open regionalism.

• Consejo Europeo de Investigaciones Sobre América Latina European Council for Latin American Research, based at the University of Toulouse (France).

• CRIES (Coordinadora Regional de Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales – Regional Coordinator for Economic and Social Research).  CRIES is a network of centers that conduct research on Cental American and Caribbean topics.  Its main goal is to contribute to a model of equitable and sustainable social development for the countries and territories of the Great Caribbean.

• Directorio de la Red Europea de Información y Documentación sobre América Latina -REDIAL- The Directory of the European Network for Latin American Information and Documentation (REDIAL) compiles information from all the European institutions specialized in scientific information in the social sciences and humanities, integrated in REDIAL.  Its sources have data about Latin American collections, description of their resources, and collections.

• Directorio de ONGDs This directory provides detailed information on Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) based in Spain that operate in Latin America: countries of operation, target population, project typologies, activities, financial information, etc.).

• Informativo Andino Journal published by the Andean Community.  It contains articles about Andean integration as well as about the relations of the Andean Community with third countries and with other economic blocs.

• Institut für Iberoamerika-Kunde (IIK) The Institute of Ibero-American Studies (IIK) was founded in 1962 with the objective of observing and scientifically analysing political, economic and social development processes in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. By closely linking research, documentation and information work the IIK aims to serve interested parties from the worlds of science, politics and business as well as a broad spectrum of the public engaged in the problems of the region.

• Institute of Latin American Studies (University of London) The Institute of Latin American Studies, established in 1965, is a member of the University of London's School of Advanced Study. The Institute promotes, coordinates and provides a central focus for research and postgraduate teaching on Latin America in the social sciences and humanities in the University of London. It plays a national role as a coordinating and information centre for Latin American Studies in the UK. The Institute maintains international links with universities and research institutes in Latin America, continental Europe, the United States and other parts of the world.

·        Institute of Latin American Studies Stockholm University (LAIS) Relations between Sweden and Latin America became increasingly important since the beginning of this century. It was not, however, but after World War II, in 1951, that the increasing interest on the part of the Swedish government and the Swedish business community on expanding their knowledge of the region led to the creation of the Ibero American Library and Institute at the Stockholm School of Economics. Later on, in 1969, the Institute was reorganized as a national institute for studies on Latin America and was re-chartered as a government institution with the right to establish cooperation at a Nordic level

• Instituto Italo-Latinoamericano The Italian-Latin American Institute conducts research and compiles documentation related to the problems, achievements, and perspectives of its member countries in science, culture, economics, technology and society.  It shares its findings among the members and promotes assistance and joint actions among the member countries.

·         Instituto para la Integración de América Latina y el Caribe (INTAL) The Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean is an international organization created by an agreement between the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Argentina in 1964. Institutionally, INTAL is part of the Integration and Regional Programs Department of the IDB.  INTAL has been actively involved in research activities, technical cooperation for governments and institutions in the academic and business field, and training in support of the integration and regional cooperation processes. As of 1996, the Institute working plan is based upon a new conceptual and operational strategy which meets the demands and changes produced in the regional integration scenario in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as a response to the strong tendency towards the globalization of the economies which came about in the latest years around the world.

·        IRELA The Institute for European-Latin American Relations, based in Madrid (Spain), is an international research and consultant institution created by the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Latin American Parliament on 2 September, 1985.  IRELA’s activities comprise research, political analysis, confidential consulting, organization of forums and seminars for dialogue and discussion, collection of economic, political, and social development data, as well as relations between Europe and Latin America.

·        MERCOSUR MERCOSUR is the customs union created by Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay on 26 March, 1991.  Bolivia and Chile have signed trade agreements with MERCOSUR and have institutionalized an association relationship with it. The principle that led to the creation of MERCOSUR is the idea that extending the national markets of the member states through integration was the fundamental condition to speed up the process economic development and social justice.  MERCOSUR countries seek to make efficient use of their resources, to preserve their environment, to improve physical communication among themselves, and to complement every sector of their economies.

• NAFTA Secretariat The NAFTA Secretariat, comprised of the Canadian, U.S. and Mexican Sections, is an unique organization, established by the Free Trade Commission, pursuant to Article 2002, Chapter 20 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).  It is responsible for the administration of the dispute settlement provisions of the Agreement. The mandate of the NAFTA Secretariat also includes the provision of assistance to the Commission and support for various non-dispute related committees and working groups.

• Organization of American State - OAS OAS is an international organization, headquartered in Washington D.C. that seeks Pan-American cooperation in several fields: cultural, economic, educational, environmental, social.

• Parlamento Amazónico The Amazon Parliament is a permanent institution created in 1989 by the representatives of the Parliaments of the member countries of Amazonia: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.  The Amazon Parliament is the legislative body of Amazonia, and seeks to promote political and parliamentary relations among its member countries.
• Boletín Informativo is the journal of Parlamento Amazónico.

• Parlamento Latinoamericano Parlacén is formed by the Parliaments of the twenty-two countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, which meet in an ordinary and extra-ordinary way with the purpose of analyzing projects and studies on the region’s problems, that later can be approved and taken for suggestions to the various National Parliaments, to be ratified and executed by them. These meetings, in different cities of our continent have the objective of promoting concrete actions which are beneficiary to all the nations of Latin America.

• Revista Estadísticas y Comercio Journal published by ALADI.

·         Sistema Andino de Integración - SAI The Andean integration System is made up by the organs and institutions that work together to deepen Andean subregional integration, its external promotion, and to strengthen its internal relations.  A meeting of the representatives of the organs and institutions that make up Sai takes place on a regular basis.

·        Sistema Económico Latinoamericano The Latin American Economic System (SELA) is a regional intergovernmental organization, headquartered in Caracas (Venezuela), which groups 28 Latin American and Caribbean countries. It seeks to foster extraregional and intraregional relations, as well as regional cooperation.

·        Unión Interparlamentaria The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the world organization of parliaments of sovereign States. It was established in 1889.  The Union is the focal point for worldwide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy.