In May 2010, the Heads of State and Government of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean took the decision to create an international organisation with a clear and strategic ambition: to turn the partnership between the two regions into a solid and visible reality. Thus, the EU-LAC Foundation was born – the only intergovernmental organisation with a fully bi-regional mandate and membership – and in 2025 it celebrates its fifteenth anniversary.
Over the past fifteen years, the organisation has stood out for adding value to the relationship between the two regions and energising civil society engagement, providing multi-stakeholder platforms and a programme agenda aligned with the priorities set at the Summits of Heads of State and Government. As highlighted in the Declaration of the Third Summit, held in 2023, the EU-LAC Foundation has a “strengthened role in the context of the bi-regional dialogue”. The promotion of academic networks, thematic forums, training programmes and dialogue events, along with the consistent production of knowledge useful for public policymaking, has contributed to showcasing the transformative potential of the alliance between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean. This has taken place in a context marked by challenges such as structural asymmetries between the regions and political changes within them; the pandemic and its lasting effects; and profound transformations in the international order.
The year 2025 marks not only a symbolic anniversary for the EU-LAC Foundation but also an important moment for its institutional projection. Coinciding with the celebration of the Fourth EU-CELAC Summit in Colombia in November, the organisation reaffirms itself as a key player in the bi-regional architecture, consolidating its role as a dynamic bridge between continents. In an international context marked by polarisation and the weakening of multilateralism, expectations are particularly high regarding this high-level political gathering. Throughout the year, this summit will be enriched by dialogue among civil societies, youth, the academic and private sectors, among other stakeholders from both regions.
The EU-LAC Foundation is committed to actively contributing to this process, supporting the Summit with a strategy focused on aligning agendas, producing substantive inputs, and promoting multi-stakeholder dialogue; as well as enhancing the visibility of the bi-regional relationship and the agreements reached.
Celebrating fifteen years also reaffirms a commitment to the future. From its headquarters in Hamburg and with renewed leadership, the organisation has developed a 2025–2028 strategy, the result of extensive bi-regional consultations. The EU-LAC Foundation aims to strengthen its role as a facilitator of multi-level, multi-stakeholder bi-regional dialogue, and to promote bi-regional cooperation within multilateral settings. It also seeks to catalyse deeper social connections and communicate the EU-CELAC partnership’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive economic growth in both regions. Furthermore, it aspires to consolidate itself as a model international organisation, with effective, agile, and transparent governance.
For the 2025–2028 period, the organisation has proposed a strategic thematic agenda prioritising areas with high potential for bi-regional impact and collaboration. The EU-LAC Foundation aims to facilitate dialogue between governments, the private sector and development banks in the fields of trade, investment and fair economies. At the same time, it seeks to promote spaces for reflection on the social contract, democracy, human rights and the rule of law – with a focus on issues such as disinformation, artificial intelligence, and investigative journalism – to help strengthen civic space. Gender equality is addressed through initiatives around political leadership, care, and the environment, driven by the EU-LAC WIN Network: a bi-regional women's network created by the EU-LAC Foundation in 2021, which is becoming a prominent actor in its field. The organisation also aims to promote exchanges on climate, the environment and financing. Finally, in matters of security and illicit economies, the EU-LAC Foundation seeks to facilitate contact, information exchange and trust-building.
This comprehensive approach reflects not only a realistic reading of the challenges faced by both regions but also a firm belief in the strategic value of their partnership. In a global context marked by uncertainty and fragmentation, the EU-LAC Foundation positions itself as a unique and resilient instrument: capable of building consensus, generating useful knowledge, and mobilising diverse actors around common goals. All in service of the values shared by the bi-regional partnership: resilient, inclusive and democratic societies, inclusive multilateralism, and international cooperation.
(The opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the EU-LAC Foundation).