The leaders of the European Union and seven Latin American and Caribbean countries (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Suriname) took stock on Thursday 2 December of strategic bi-regional relations, 6 years after the last EU/CELAC summit (see EUROPE 11333/1).
“We hope that this meeting will be a stepping stone to a real bi-regional summit as soon as conditions allow”, European Council President Charles Michel said in a statement. He said the two regions can “play a decisive role in addressing major global challenges”, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.
As for battling the pandemic, the EU has provided €3 billion in immediate aid to Latin America and the Caribbean and has exported over 130 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the region. It says it is willing to consider supporting local vaccine production.
To support the bilateral economic partnership and address socio-economic inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean, the NDICI programme will be able to mobilise €3.4 billion by 2027.
“The recent ‘Global Gateway’ strategy can take this partnership forward”, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said (see EUROPE 12844/7). Projects in the digital and ‘green’ hydrogen production fields are being considered.
In order to combat climate change and biodiversity loss, the EU is preparing a ‘Team Europe’ initiative to support efforts against deforestation in the Amazon. The EU will mobilise €1 billion as part of the global commitment to protect forests, announced in Glasgow at COP26 (see EUROPE 12824/1). And a new €140 million Euroclima+ programme will support Latin America and the Caribbean to help them meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Several European countries refuse to sign the EU/Mercosur agreement until firm commitments are made to combat deforestation in the Amazon (see EUROPE 12827/29).
There was no press conference at the end of the meeting. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)