The Executive Director of the EU-LAC Foundation, Alberto Brunori, carried out a working mission in Colombia, the host country of the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit. During his stay in Bogotá, he held a series of key meetings with representatives of the Colombian government and other institutions to strengthen cooperation and contribute to the Summit’s preparation process.
One of the most notable meetings took place at the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where Brunori had a highly positive discussion with Ambassadors Margarita Manjarrez, Director of Mechanisms for Regional Concertation and Integration and National Coordinator before CELAC, and Patricia Cortés, Director for Europe at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They addressed strategic issues related to the preparations for the Summit of Heads of State and Government, as well as the fundamental role of the EU-LAC Foundation in supporting the process. Additionally, they discussed possible lines of action to ensure the event’s success and its impact on the biregional relationship.
As part of his agenda in Bogotá, the Executive Director also visited the Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC Colombia), where he engaged in discussions with its representatives about collaboration opportunities. During the meeting, they explored the possibility of organising the UE-CELAC Forum of Local and Regional Governments in the Colombian capital, an event that would strengthen coordination between local and regional actors from both regions and foster the exchange of experiences in strategic areas.
Brunori was also received by Congressman David Alejandro Toro Ramírez, President of the Second Commission on International Relations and the Group of Congressmen “Friends of Europe.”
Furthermore, he held a productive exchange with the European Union Ambassador to Colombia, Gilles Bertrand. This dialogue provided a space for discussing the progress of preparations for the biregional high-level political gathering and the initiatives to be carried out within its framework. The conversation allowed for aligning visions, sharing progress, and strengthening coordination in the lead-up to the UE-CELAC Summit.
Throughout his visit, the Executive Director reaffirmed the EU-LAC Foundation’s commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between Latin America, the Caribbean, and the European Union. Through these meetings, progress was made in coordinating efforts to ensure that the UE-CELAC 2025 Summit serves as an effective dialogue platform and a turning point in the biregional relationship.
