EU and CELAC strengthen strategic partnership to face global challenges

In the framework of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development(FFD4), leaders of the European Union (EU) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) met in Seville to promote the investment agenda set out in the Global Gateway and prepare for the 4th bi-regional Summit to be held in November in Santa Marta, Colombia.

The meeting, organized by CAF -development bank of Latin America and the Caribbean- together with the European Commission and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), followed up on the achievements since the III EU-CELAC Summit in Brussels (July 2023), where the bi-regional partnership was relaunched, and the first meeting of Ministers of Economy and Finance in Santiago de Compostela, in September 2023.

On this occasion, progress in green transition, digitalization and human development projects were discussed, pillars of the Global Gateway between the two regions, which seeks to mobilize investments to close socioeconomic gaps in Latin America and the Caribbean.

José Raúl Mulino, President of Panama, said that Latin America and the Caribbean is a large family united by a great sense of belonging. "In meetings like this one, the presidents are like brothers who meet after a while". Mulino also said that "today we have a great challenge in the face of a new world scenario. The best recipe is to remain united".

Laura Sarabia, Colombian Foreign Minister, said that "We want to arrive in Santa Marta with concrete announcements, with concrete projects and projects that transform lives in the short, medium and long term. Words are not enough, we need results. This is a generational opportunity. Let's take advantage of it.

"Latin America and the Caribbean is a reliable, like-minded and economically complementary partner. The region offers precisely what Europe needs most. For its part, the European Union has the capital, technology and know-how to promote the development of bi-regional production chains with high added value," said Sergio Díaz-Granados, CAF's Executive President.

Nadia Calviño, President of the EIB, highlighted the economic, cultural and political importance of LAC for Europe. "Europe stands with Latin America and the Caribbean. We will continue to strengthen financing instruments so that we can increase volumes and impact; so that the projects we are financing change people's lives."

In addition, Carlos Cuerpo, Spain's Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, recounted that LAC remains a priority for Spain: "A strategic partner for all the key elements to lay the foundations for sustainable growth in the medium and long term". The Spanish minister pointed out that "It is a matter of contributing development agendas that are generated in the countries receiving these contributions," and concluded by saying that the fourth EU-CELAC summit in Santa Marta will be key to strengthening and expanding the Global Gateway agenda.

For his part, Ilan Goldfajn, president of the IDB, said that "since the launch of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda in 2023, the IDB and European partners have co-financed $4.3 billion in sovereign-guaranteed projects. For every euro financed by European partners, the IDB Group contributes twice as much, amplifying the EU's impact."

Jozef Síkela, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, said, "We are dedicated to the multilateral system, and the partnership between Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean has a very positive role to play. We are natural and stable long-term allies. Social, economic and environmental progress must go hand in hand. The EU sees the region as an ally by choice".

Towards Santa Marta

Participants discussed a roadmap to consolidate the strategic alliance ahead of the IV EU-CELAC Summit in Santa Marta (November 9-10, 2025), where new commitments are expected to be announced in green transition (renewable energy projects, electric mobility and sargasso management), digital transformation (expansion of the BELLA cable and the EU-LAC Digital Alliance) and human development (technical training programs and local vaccine manufacturing).
EU-CELAC relations have the potential to drive sustainable development in both regions, with investment opportunities exceeding the €45 billion committed to the Global Gateway initiative. Latin America and the Caribbean, which is home to 60% of the world's biodiversity and generates 30% of its energy from renewable sources, is a key partner for the EU in the green transition.

In addition, the region represents a market of 650 million people, with growing demand for digital infrastructure, where the current gap affects 40% of the rural population. The bi-regional collaboration, reinforced in summits such as Brussels in July 2023, Santiago in September 2023, the one held in Seville in June 2025 and the next one in Santa Marta, Colombia, in September 2025, fosters concrete projects in clean energy, 5G connectivity and health, and can become a driver of socio-economic development in both regions.

The session was also attended by other high-level representatives from both regions, such as the Ministers of Economy and Finance from countries like Argentina, Panama, Costa Rica, Spain and the Dominican Republic.