European Union Public Diplomacy through the EEAS: the cases of Argentina, Brazil and Mexico

Public diplomacy is a promising activity for international political actors to promote a positive image abroad. It also provides opportunities for dialogue, understanding and mutual benefit when communicating and addressing challenges. Within the European Union (EU), the Lisbon Treaty and the European External Action Service (EEAS) have given a new strength to foreign policy. The EEAS, launched in December 2010, is the EU's main institution for public diplomacy. Argentina, Brazil and Mexico are relevant Latin American partners for the EU because of their size, population and political and economic potency in the region. This paper aims to answer the following questions: What is the context of EU relations with Argentina, Brazil and Mexico during the period of study (2011-2013)? What have been the EU's foreign policy and strategies towards these countries? How have public diplomacy and the work of the EEAS in these countries supported the objectives and strategies? This research includes information gained through the consultation of publications, official documents and interviews with personnel from the EEAS, both in Brussels and in the EU delegations in Latin America.