However dynamic economic ties may be with the region, there's no denying that there are areas that still give cause for concern - attempts for co-operation have been dogged by regional rivalry. Only a few weeks ago, Ecuador and Colombia were engaged in a diplomatic spat which saw them mobilising troops. Populist leftist leaders from Venezuela and Bolivia say they'll be attending a parallel summit to the EU-Latin America Summit due to open in the Peruvian capital, Lima, on Saturday.