The EU-LAC Foundation team successfully carried out a working mission in Brussels to engage in dialogue with representatives of EU Member States and institutions. During these meetings, discussions focused on the implementation of the organisation’s 2025 work plan, its contribution to the EU-CELAC Summit process, and preparations for this important high-level bi-regional meeting.
The EU-LAC Foundation delegation was received by Mexico’s Ambassador to the European Union, Rogelio Granguillhome, with whom key initiatives were discussed on gender issues, trade, investment, and fair economies.
A dialogue was also held with Barbados’ Ambassador to the EU, Nicolla Simone Rudder, who leads the Caribbean Ambassadors’ Group in Brussels. The conversation focused on strengthening the Caribbean’s participation in the Foundation’s initiatives and its key role in the EU-CELAC 2025 Summit.
In Brussels, a meeting also took place with Brazil’s Ambassador to the EU, Pedro Miguel da Costa e Silva. During the discussion, the EU-LAC Foundation’s Executive Director, Alberto Brunori, exchanged views on the preparations for the EU-CELAC 2025 Summit. Additionally, they discussed the conclusion of the EU-Mercosur Agreement negotiations.
Brunori also held talks with Daniel Prado, Colombia’s Ambassador to the EU, as Colombia is set to assume the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). This meeting focused on preparations for the upcoming Summit, a key opportunity to coordinate efforts and advance the bi-regional agenda at a crucial moment.
Furthermore, the Foundation team met with James Trinder, Rachel Simon, and Erich de Castro from Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, who were invited to contribute their expertise to activities and studies on climate finance and energy security.
Another significant meeting took place with Mr. Carlos Manuel Simões da Silva, a member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), and Ewa Tomaszewska, Policy Officer for Latin America in the EESC’s External Relations Section. The discussion covered current trends in bi-regional relations and identified shared areas of interest, such as sustainable trade, democracy, human rights, and the fight against disinformation, with the aim of strengthening cooperation in the coming months.
These meetings reinforce joint efforts to continue advancing strategic cooperation between the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean.
