Foreign Ministers

And to give you an idea of the importance of the block, I tell them that it covers 388 million people with a global GDP of U.S. $ 1.9 billion (ie about 3.5% of world GDP). How do you shape the UNASUR? The first thing to say is that it is at deliberative bodies, a Council of Heads of State and Government, a Council of Foreign Ministers and a Council of Delegates. You also have a , based in Quito, and providing for the establishment of a South American parliament, to be located in the Bolivian city of Cochabamba. One of the most enthusiastic about the new bloc, Lula said inter alia that “we must move quickly with innovative projects and powerful in priority areas such as financial and energy integration, improving regional infrastructure and the establishment of a social cooperation agenda. ” As always, Lula has ambitious ideas in mind where, of course, Brazil takes the lead in initiatives. The truth is that the whole issue of UNASUR has taken by surprise more than one at a time just was not imaginable where the formation of such blocks that succeeded in bringing together some countries. That is why this block, while generating high expectations and at the same time produces a number of questions. The most immediate is the following: What prospects have strengthened this block and produce benefits for the region? In connection therewith, the first thing to consider is that the block comes in a context where several Latin American countries have been able to consolidate macroeconomic and institutional strength, achieving international recognition has awarded many of the same with the much sought investment grade.