Global voices on regional integration

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In her preface, the EU-Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, highlights the importance of other regional groupings for the EU. The essays of the participants examine the benefits and difficulties of region-building and the role of the EU as a model and partner. They cover some of the most important regional integration initiatives like COMESA, SADC and ECOWAS in Africa, CARICOM and OECS in the Caribbean, MERCOSUR, SICA and CAN in Latin America and SAARC and ASEAN in Asia. Although the essays of this paper deal with multiple issues and different projects of integration, it is fascinating to observe that the contributions show consensus on certain points. It is commonly acknowledged that regional integration is an evolutionary process that cannot be achieved in a short term. In addition, the inclusion of a political, social and cultural dimension instead of mere economic cooperation is seen as an advantage, especially when it comes to gaining the support of the population. Moreover, although there is no "best solution" to achieve regional integration and every region has to find its own way, a supranational structure, as it exists in the EU, is widely considered as a precondition for successful regional integration