The IV Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU) recognised the work carried out by the EU-LAC Foundation in promoting the strategic partnership between the two regions.
The joint declaration resulting from the meeting stated: “We welcome the work of the EU-LAC International Foundation, which has continued to make significant contributions to the bi-regional dialogue and cooperation, and we look forward to continuing to support its work.”
The EU-LAC Foundation attended the Summit as an observer and, in the lead-up to this important meeting, fulfilled the mandate granted by its member states to strengthen the bi-regional partnership through the promotion of spaces for dialogue, research, and innovative proposals that bring together governmental, academic, and civil society actors—thus contributing to positioning the EU–CELAC relationship on the international agenda.
Throughout this year, the organisation supported the Summit process with a robust roadmap encompassing around twenty activities across five thematic areas that reflect the main spheres of bi-regional interest: trade, investment and fair economies; democracy, human rights and the rule of law; gender equality; climate change, environment and finance; and security and illicit economies.
The EU–LAC Foundation has also produced strategic publications offering analysis, evidence, and recommendations to enrich the Summit discussions and strengthen an informed, inclusive, and results-oriented bi-regional dialogue.
Among the key outcomes of the debates promoted by the EU–LAC Foundation are:
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Progress on the Bi-Regional Care Pact.
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The development of public policy proposals to tackle illicit economies—particularly drug trafficking—from a bi-regional cooperation perspective, drawing on the experience of port cities.
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The preparation of a discussion paper on opportunities for sustainable investment and fair trade between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the need to protect the multilateral trading system.
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Recommendations concerning environmental justice and successful experiences of climate finance on both sides of the Atlantic.
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A debate on the intersection between investigative journalism and artificial intelligence in the bi-regional context, leading to recommendations on journalist protection, regulatory cooperation on AI, and the fight against disinformation.
