Two years after promising a new start to their bilateral relations, in Brussels (see EUROPE 13225/1), the leaders of the countries of the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC) are invited to deepen their partnership, on Sunday 9 November, in the Colombian seaside resort of Santa Marta. Against a backdrop of political uncertainty and trade tensions, the Europeans are making this an “imperative”, according to a European diplomat on Monday 3 November.
While many leaders have gathered in the Brazilian Amazon in support of climate action, the level of participation at the EU-CELAC summit will be lower. Apart from the Brazilian and Spanish leaders, the Mexican, Argentinian and Chilean leaders will not be attending on the Latin American side, and neither with the French President, the German Chancellor or the Italian Prime Minister on the European side.
Citing this low turnout, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will not be assuming her institutional responsibility of representing the EU27 alongside the President of the European Council, António Costa. The EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, will therefore represent the European Commission in Santa Marta.
At the end of two sessions of discussions, the leaders will adopt a joint declaration detailing the essential elements of their partnership: the defence of a rules-based multilateral system, the fight against climate disruption, and the strengthening of investment and trade.
While in July 2023, the adoption of common language to condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine caused some delegations to tense up, this European diplomat noted “more maturity” during the preparatory discussions on respect for the UN Charter.
Sanctioned by the United States, the Colombian president, Gustavo Petro, is keen to address the renewed tensions with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, after the latter sent military vessels to patrol the Caribbean Sea and had boats attributed to drug traffickers destroyed.
On the European side, the situation is being closely monitored. “We share the objective of dismantling criminal networks” and “the EU is ready to cooperate with the CELAC countries and the United States to combat this threat, while respecting international law and territorial sovereignty”, commented a second European diplomat.
European, Latin American and Caribbean leaders will also adopt a second declaration on the security of citizens in the face of organised crime. This is a “priority theme” on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, noted the second diplomat, who said that the declaration would address issues of security, justice and the financial flows generated by organised crime.
A second document, entitled ‘Pact on Care’, will address more social issues of interest to citizens on both sides of the Atlantic.
On the trade front, the EU and CELAC will reaffirm the importance of seizing trade opportunities that benefit both regions. At a time when the United States is imposing customs tariffs left and right, the Europeans are presenting themselves as predictable and reliable partners. And in the face of a China that is mainly interested in agricultural or mining raw materials, they are promoting partnerships that are capable of producing added value in Latin America and that benefit local populations.
In early September, the European Commission sent the EU Council the text of the free trade agreements between the EU and Mercosur (see EUROPE 13701/1 – and see other news), as well as Mexico (see EUROPE 13701/3). (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)