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Associate and Consultative Observers
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Associate and Consultative Observers of the Ibero-American Conference

The Consensus of San Salvador, adopted by the Presidents of the XVII Ibero-American Summit, created the figure of Associate and Consultative Observers of the Ibero-American Conference.

The former category refers to States with linguistic and cultural affinities with Ibero-America and which can make significant contributions to the region.

The latter category is targeted at inter-governmental international organisations that can also make the aforementioned contributions.

Associate and Consultative Observers

In addition to sharing linguistic and cultural affinities with Ibero-American countries and being able to make significant contributions to the region, any State that wishes to become an Associate Observer shall expressly assume the Ibero-American Conference’s guiding values and principles.

The organisation shall have a Secretariat or a Community Body that serves as a link vis-à-vis the SEGIB and which represents the Consultative Observer in instances of the Ibero-American Conference, as well as the express intention to contribute to strengthening, promoting and projecting the Ibero-American space through significant contributions.

In the same way as Associate Observers, a Consultative Observer shall also expressly assume the Ibero-American Conference’s guiding values and principles.

The steps to follow are set forth in the Consensus of San Salvador and in the General Secretariat Bulletin. It is worthy of note that obtaining this category shall be subject to the unanimous acceptance of all the Ibero-American countries.

benefits of being an Ibero-American Conference Observer

In addition to the obligations that the States and Organisations shall fulfil, on obtaining Observer status, they also acquire specific rights relating to their attendance and participation:

the Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government that is held every two years

the Meetings of Chancellors, National Coordinators and Cooperation Officers

the Conference’s Sectorial Ministerial Meetings

cooperation activities

Consultative observers

Approved at the XXVII Ibero-American Summit in Andorra in 2021

  • UN WOMEN – United Nations Organization

Approved at the XXVI Ibero-American Summit in Guatemala in 2018

  • UNICEF – United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund

Approved at the XXIII Ibero-American Summit in Panama in 2013

  • LAIA – Latin American Integration Association
  • ECLAC – Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
  • IOM – International Organization for Migration
  • ILO – International Labour Organisation
  • PAHO – Pan American Health Organization
  • UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
  • UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme

Approved at the Ibero-American Meeting of Foreign Ministers in July 2010

  • ALADI – Asociación Latinoamericana de Integración
  • CEPAL – Comisión Económica

Aprobados en la Reunión Iberoamericana de Cancilleres en julio de 2010

  • IDB – Inter-American Development Bank
  • CAF – Latin American Development Bank
  • WFP – United Nations World Food Programme

Approved at the XIX Ibero-American Summit in Estoril in 2009

  • FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
  • FLACSO – Latin American School of Social Sciences
  • OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • OECS – Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
  • SELA – Latin American and Caribbean Economic System
  • LU – Latin Union

Associate observers

  • HUNGARY, approved at the XXVII Ibero-American Summit in Andorra in 2021
  • GERMANY, approved at the XXVII Ibero-American Summit in Andorra in 2021
  • LUXEMBOURG, approved at the XXVII Ibero-American Summit in Andorra in 2021
  • KOREA, approved at the XXV Ibero-American Summit in Cartagena in 2016
  • JAPAN, approved at the XXIII Ibero-American Summit in Panama in 2013
  • HAITI, approved at the XXII Ibero-American Summit in Cádiz in 2012
  • FRANCE, approved at the Ibero-American Meeting of Foreign Ministers in September 2010
  • MOROCCO, approved at the Ibero-American Meeting of Foreign Ministers in July 2010
  • THE NETHERLANDS, approved at the Ibero-American Meeting of Foreign Ministers in July 2010
  • PHILIPPINES, approved at the Ibero-American Meeting of Foreign Ministers in May 2010
  • BELGIUM, approved at the XIX Ibero-American Summit in Estoril in 2009
  • ITALY, approved at the XIX Ibero-American Summit in Estoril in 2009