BRIDGE WATCH Project:  Values and Democracy in the European Union and Latin America

The Bridge Watch Project is an extension and deepening of efforts previously established by the “Building RIGHTS and Developing KnowledGE between European Union and Latin-America – BRIDGE Project,” a notable Jean Monnet Network initiative (2020-2023). It is a collaborative endeavor involving a network of 14 prestigious universities across Europe and Latin America. Participating institutions include the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina in Brazil, Universidade de Lisboa in Portugal, Universidad del Salvador in Argentina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Universidad del Rosario in Colombia, Universidad de Sevilla in Spain, Università degli Studi di Milano in Italy, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in Bolivia, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Universidad Nacional de Trujillo in Peru, Universidad de Chile, Universidad Nacional de Asunción in Paraguay, Universidad de la República in Uruguay, and Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in Spain.

The inception of the Bridge Watch Project aims to foster a nuanced understanding of Latin American countries from the European Union’s perspective on values and democracy. This initiative is designed to generate critical knowledge and insights, thereby enhancing the EU’s influence in a global context. The project not only aims to inform policy systems but also to bridge the gap between academia and society. It encourages engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society actors, policymakers, educators, and media representatives, at various levels.

Through these initiatives, the Bridge Watch Project aspires to contribute significantly to the understanding of democratic values and practices in the EU and Latin America, facilitating a constructive dialogue across continents.