[{"bbox": [96, 152, 1136, 258], "category": "Text", "text": "This offers new opportunities for the EU to engage with Guatemala, accompanying structural reforms, aiming at promoting political stability, rule of law, fighting corruption, promoting the green and fair transition and fighting inequalities. It also offers increased opportunities to implement the Global Gateway Investment Agenda, enhance business climate and increase investments."}, {"bbox": [96, 283, 1136, 443], "category": "Text", "text": "On the economic side, Guatemala's macroeconomic fundamentals remain stable. According to the latest IMF's Article IV Staff Report (7 June 2022), the remarkable resilience of the economy during the pandemic, driven by policy support, favourable credit conditions and a favourable external environment, has almost returned the level of GDP to its pre-pandemic projected trend. In 2022, growth raised to 4.1% of GDP. However, social indicators such as poverty and malnutrition remain extremely high, and disproportionally so among indigenous communities, women and children."}, {"bbox": [96, 467, 1136, 602], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU deployed in 2023 a fully-fledged EU EOM to observe the election process. The mission was essential to help ensure the election results after the Public Prosecutor's Office, in coordination with some members of the judiciary and a corrupted political elite attempted to overturn the results under allegations of fraud. The role of the EU in promoting democracy in Guatemala (EU EOM and close follow up by the HRVP and the 27 MS) has been fundamental in ensuring the peaceful democratic transition."}, {"bbox": [85, 615, 342, 647], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 686, 1136, 920], "category": "Text", "text": "Today, according to The Economist's democracy index, Guatemala is described as a hybrid democracy. This index takes into consideration five elements for a full democracy: a) the electoral process and pluralism; b) functioning of government; c) political participation; d) political culture; and, e) civil liberties. The total score awarded to the country is 4.47 being 10.00 the best score (The Economist intelligence unit, 2023). During the 2023 elections, the EU EOM manifested serious concerns over the various threats to democracy, including the limited separation of powers, sever restrictions on the freedom of expression and the press, misuse of politically captured institutions for electoral purposes and constant attacks on the rule of law. The EU EOM delivered 26 recommendations aimed at strengthening democracy, the rule of law and good governance."}, {"bbox": [96, 945, 1136, 1410], "category": "Text", "text": "Despite the taking office of anti-corruption and pro-human rights leader Bernardo Arevalo, the governability of the country is hampered by their minority in Congress and by strong anti-democratic powers (among which, the Public Prosecutor office - sanctioned by the EU and the US). Arévalo faces therefore significant challenges in combating corruption, inheriting a weakened executive, a highly corrupted judicial system, and a fragmented legislative. The government party Semilla Movement, had its legal status suspended, therefore its 23 representatives in congress (out of 160) are sitting as independent. As they are a minority in Congress they have difficulties to propose and advance a legislative agenda and the approval of international loans from development banks, needed to address the enormous infrastructure and social needs. International human rights bodies and experts continue expressing multiple concerns over constant attacks on the independence of judges, prosecutors and lawyers involved in key cases of crimes under international law, human rights violations and corruption. As concerns the environment, human rights defenders and Indigenous experts reported that illegal logging, the destruction of natural areas, the pollution of most water bodies, the expansion of monocultures and cattle, as well as attacks against environmental defenders and Indigenous communities. The country suffers from an enormous infrastructure and digital gap, and Arevalo has placed the promotion of foreign investment as a top priority for his government. Further, Guatemala is one of the most exposed countries to natural hazards and ranks ninth globally in climate change risk."}, {"bbox": [96, 1436, 1136, 1554], "category": "Text", "text": "Guatemala is a country with high levels of gender inequality and violence against women. It is ranked 112 out of 135 countries for gender equality, making it the most unequal country in Latin America. It also ranks 3rd in the world for femicide. Although Guatemala has made some progress in creating policies and frameworks to promote gender equality, it still scores poorly on the SDG Gender Index.⁵"}, {"bbox": [85, 1620, 631, 1647], "category": "Footnote", "text": "⁵ SDG-index_report_FINAL_EN.pdf (equalmeasures2030.org)"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1681, 1144, 1707], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 17"}]