Twenty years of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP): results and prospects

This article is dedicated to the twentieth anniversary of the Community of Portuguese-speaking Countries (CPLP), which today comprises 9 countries of the world as its members. Relations between its members today differ significantly from the traditional cooperation between the former colonial power (Portugal) and its former colonies, as Brazil and Angola are recognized regional leaders today and are classified as “emerging” powers. The article details the creation of Community and shows the evolution of its activities over the past 20 years. The organization's management structure as well as its main bodies, including the Conference of Heads of State and Government, the Executive Secretariat, as well as regular meetings at ministerial, inter-parliamentary conference, meeting of representatives of the judicial authorities are described. The main purpose of the organization remains the cooperation in the economic, social and cultural development of the member-countries, the spread of the Portuguese language and the strengthening of the position of these countries in international organizations. However, with the beginning of the XXI century an important priority in the work of the organization became the defense and public security, including the formation of joint lusophone FELINO forces to participate in peacekeeping operations.