On December 4, as part of the CONEXIÓNVerde+ event held in Belém do Pará, Brazil, the EU-LAC Foundation and the AL-INVEST Verde Programme organized the Roundtable titled “European Green Deal: Opportunities and Challenges to Bi-regional Cooperation.” This platform brought together business associations with decision makers and experts in sustainability and international cooperation to discuss the implications of the European Green Deal for strengthening sustainable value chains and fostering cooperation between the two regions.
The roundtable, moderated by PhD. Anna Barrera and Diego Durán-Cruz from the EU-LAC Foundation, featured the participation of Alberto Lora Aguancha, Director General of Trade at the Andean Community; Michel Tesch, Deputy Secretary of Rural Development of Espírito Santo, Brazil; Fernando Schwanke, Project Director at the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture; and Claudia Romano, Manager of the Uruguayan Agency for International Cooperation.
During the session, key topics were addressed, including the commercial opportunities the European Green Deal represents for Latin American small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interested in exporting to the European market through sustainable value chains, the challenges these businesses face in meeting the new standards, the innovative solutions already implemented in the region, and the recommendations needed to enhance their competitiveness in response to these demands.
The discussions highlighted the importance of responsible value chains in sectors such as agriculture and the need to strengthen SMEs through effective public policies, access to financing, and training programs. The benefits of fostering fairer trade relationships that enable producers in the region to comply with European standards without compromising their productivity and economic development were also emphasized.
This dialogue served as a platform for analysis, sharp reflection, and the generation of proposals to reinforce bi-regional cooperation in fulfilling global climate commitments while promoting inclusive and equitable territorial development. As a result of the meeting, a Policy Brief will be developed to synthesize the main conclusions and recommendations from the roundtable, thus contributing to the technical debate and strengthening sustainable trade relations between the European Union and Latin America.
The roundtable was part of CONEXIÓNVerde+, an event that brought together key actors from both the private and public sectors in Latin America and Europe, committed to transitioning towards more sustainable growth and job creation. It became a crucial platform for the exchange of experiences and the promotion of bi-regional cooperation in the fight against climate change.
