Partner or model? The Latin-American perception of the EU in the supranational audiovisual policies

The EU has a strong influence on the development of audiovisual policies in Latin America. The paper investigates how the EU is perceived by Latin-American audiovisual institutions in two different supranational regions: Mercosur and Ibero-America. The findings are based on a literature review, qualitative document analysis, and semi-structured expert interviews. It reveals a lack of definition of the EU image where RECAM did not concretely define the EU and engaged in a blind policy transfer process, while Ibermedia perceives the EU as
a strategic partner and seeks cooperation with mutual benefits. The paper provides a deeper understanding of what the EU model means to Latin America, going beyond its institutional framework, and proposes a reflection on the EU perception and how it could lead to different forms of dialogue.