The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is not expected to attend the summit between the countries of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC) on Sunday 9 November in Santa Marta, Colombia.
When questioned, EU spokesperson Paula Pinho confirmed on Tuesday 4 November Ms von der Leyen's absence. “In light of the current European political agenda and the low participation of other Heads of State or Government, President von der Leyen is not attending the Summit”, she said. She assured that Ms von der Leyen remained “fully committed to the strengthening of the EU-CELAC relations”, promising that the Commission would “closely coordinate” with the Council of the EU regarding the deliverables under its responsibility.
At Ms von der Leyen's request, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, will represent the European Commission in Santa Marta.
The services of the President of the European Council have been informed of the Commission President's absence from the EU-CELAC summit.
“President Costa remains fully committed to the EU–CELAC strategic partnership, and in this period of volatility and uncertainty, it is vital that the EU continues to act as a reliable and predictable partner”, said a spokesperson for Mr Costa on Tuesday 4 November. “President Costa will travel to Santa Marta to co-chair [the summit with Colombian President Gustavo Petro – editor’s note] and represent the European Union”, she added, stressing the importance of “maintaining active engagement with CELAC countries” and “upholding the practice of holding regular summits between both regions”.
This is the first time since the start of the institutional cycle that Mr Costa and Ms von der Leyen will not be representing the EU together at a bilateral summit. A few days earlier, the two leaders will be present at the launch of the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil.
Some explain Ms von der Leyen’s decision by citing the presumed low attendance of European, Latin American and Caribbean leaders at the EU/CELAC summit, two years after the Brussels summit, during which the partner countries announced their desire to make a new start in their bilateral relations (see EUROPE 13225/1).
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, and the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will not be making the trip. Instead, the Brazilian President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, will be in Santa Marta.
Others argue that, given US President Donald Trump’s aggressive policy towards Venezuela and Colombia in the name of the fight against drug trafficking, it is better to avoid appearing in the company of the Colombian leader, who is directly sanctioned by the United States.
On Monday evening, the Dominican Republic announced that after a “meticulous” analysis of “the situation in the region”, it had decided to postpone the Summit of the Americas until 2026. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)