EU-CELAC summit, 9 November 2025

Main outcomes

The fourth EU-CELAC summit introduced collectively the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in Santa Marta, Colombia on 9 November.

The summit was co-chaired by the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, in his present position as CELAC professional tempore president.

The present multipolar world requires a multilateral response to the a number of challenges we face. The EU-CELAC summit in Santa Marta demonstrates the worth of dialogue and can enable us to make our pure bond even stronger, develop collectively and defend one another.

President Costa

At the summit, leaders and representatives from each areas reiterated the strategic significance of a bi-regional relationship primarily based on:

• shared values and pursuits
• resilient, inclusive and democratic societies
• the promotion and safety of and respect for human rights and basic freedoms
• the rule of regulation
• free and clear elections
• multilateralism and worldwide cooperation

During the summit, leaders mentioned a variety of matters, together with:

• the defence of multilateralism
• commerce and funding
• the inexperienced and digital transitions
• social cohesion
• cooperation within the fields of citizen safety, justice, and the battle in opposition to transnational organised crime

Leaders adopted a joint declaration on the finish of the summit.

We are pushed by the need to deepen the historic ties that unite us, at a time when multilateralism is being questioned all around the world and there’s a continued want for a extra simply, equitable and democratic worldwide order.

CELAC-EU joint declaration

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Multilateralism

Leaders reaffirmed their adherence to the rules and functions of the Charter of the United Nations, specifically the sovereign equality of states and respect for territorial integrity and political independence, and reiterated their opposition to the risk or use of pressure and to any motion not in accordance with worldwide regulation and the Charter of the United Nations.

Leaders underlined the necessity to strengthen the multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core, and to advertise simpler, inclusive, clear, and democratic world governance, with full respect for worldwide regulation.

They additionally agreed to advertise fairer, extra inclusive and simpler worldwide monetary establishments that allocate sources adequately to improvement in its three dimensions and guarantee a higher illustration of creating nations.

Foreign affairs

Leaders famous with concern the adversarial impression of the growing variety of wars and conflicts all over the world and expressed the necessity to make sure the safety of civilians and the supply of humanitarian help.

Ukraine

Leaders supported all efforts to obtain a sustainable ceasefire and to advertise a political dialogue aimed toward a simply, complete and lasting peace and to encourage de-escalation and foster direct dialogue in accordance with worldwide regulation.

Gaza

Leaders known as on all events to completely decide to implementing all phases of the Comprehensive Plan to finish the Gaza Conflict, and to chorus from any actions that would jeopardise the settlement.

We reiterate our robust dedication to a complete, simply, and lasting peace, in accordance with the related United Nations Security Council resolutions, primarily based on the two-state answer.

CELAC-EU joint declaration

Leaders additionally known as for quick, unimpeded entry and the sustained distribution of humanitarian support at scale each into and all through Gaza.

Haiti

Leaders reaffirmed their help for Haiti and its efforts to realize political, financial, and social stability, with the backing of the worldwide group.

They stay dedicated to persevering with to fight the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition destined for Haiti, with a purpose to guarantee stability, in accordance with the rules of self-determination of peoples, sovereignty, and solidarity.

EU position on the situation in the Middle East 

EU place on the scenario within the Middle East

Trade and funding

Leaders acknowledged the strategic significance of agreements fostering nearer financial and commerce ties and enhancing financial safety and prosperity.

We will proceed taking the required steps to increase and deepen the community of commerce agreements between our two areas.

CELAC-EU joint declaration

Leaders additionally highlighted the significance of advancing collectively in:

• lowering commerce tensions
• facilitating worldwide commerce
• bettering market entry
• guaranteeing meals safety

Over the previous decade, commerce in items with CELAC has grown by over 52% and commerce in service has nearly doubled. More than a million jobs within the EU are linked to exports to Latin American and Caribbean states.

EU-CELAC relations: facts and figures 

EU-CELAC relations: information and figures

Global Gateway

Leaders welcomed the event and collaborative potential of the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda (GGIA).

Launched in 2021, the GGIA permits the EU member states and nations in Latin America and the Caribbean to work collectively to spend money on tasks that increase development in 4 areas:

Global Gateway 

Global Gateway

Climate, surroundings and vitality transition

Leaders welcomed and pledged their help for the profitable holding of COP30 in Belém do Pará, Brazil.

We recognise the necessity for deep, speedy and sustained reductions in greenhouse gasoline emissions consistent with the 1.5°C trajectory and can intensify our efforts accordingly consistent with the Paris Agreement.

CELAC-EU joint declaration

They additionally recognised the alternatives that vitality transition brings for sustainable and simply financial improvement. In this context, they’ll harness the potential of the Global Gateway technique to strengthen regional vitality interconnection in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Digital transformation

Leaders reaffirmed their dedication to respect, defend, and promote all human rights within the digital house.

We will promote secure, safe, and reliable synthetic intelligence and its moral governance, with a accountable and inclusive focus, funding into safe digital infrastructure and capability constructing, and advocate for a human-centric, safe, and open digital transformation.

CELAC-EU joint declaration

Leaders acknowledged the progress achieved by the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, launched in 2023 underneath the Global Gateway technique, which fosters collaboration, investments and the trade of finest practices between the EU and the LAC area.

They additionally recognised the necessity to deal with and counter disinformation and misinformation, in addition to hate speech, cooperating with all related stakeholders by way of the dissemination of dependable, verifiable, goal and contextualised data.

Cooperation on citizen safety

Leaders reaffirmed their dedication to scale up bi-regional efforts to handle widespread citizen safety challenges and strengthen the rule of regulation.

They underscored their shared precedence of enhancing cooperation in dismantling transnational felony networks, particularly these concerned in:

• the illicit trafficking of medication, firearms, ammunition and explosives
• cybercrime
• human trafficking
• smuggling of migrants
• unlawful mining
• crimes that have an effect on the surroundings
• illicit trafficking of cultural property
• monetary crimes

Within the framework of the summit, the EU and 18 LAC nations (Colombia, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay) launched the EU–Latin America and the Caribbean Alliance for Citizen Security. It goals to strengthen cooperation on citizen safety between the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean nations.

Pact on Care

On 9 November, the EU, along with 16 nations of Latin America and the Caribbean (Colombia, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Trinidad and Tobago and Uruguay), launched the bi-regional Pact on Care.

It goals to facilitate common exchanges on progress and finest practices within the care financial system, together with insurance policies, programmes, companies, regulatory frameworks, and institutional constructions.

EU-Caribbean leaders’ assembly

In the margins of the EU-CELAC summit, leaders from the EU and 12 nations within the Caribbean and Latin America (Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Colombia, Cuba, Dominica, Granada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis and Suriname) met on 10 November.

President Costa underlined that the assembly demonstrated a shared dedication to present renewed visibility and strategic depth to the EU-Caribbean partnership, and that either side ought to guarantee to hunt the complete implementation on commerce and financial agreements.

EIB initiative on electrical energy grids and clear vitality

In the margins of the EU-CELAC summit, the European Investment Bank (EIB) organised an occasion at which they dedicated to finance $1.15 billion to transmission and distribution tasks, in addition to renewable vitality initiatives throughout Central America.

In his speech, President Costa emphasised that this dedication demonstrates that cooperation between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean is extra than simply the CELAC summit. He additionally careworn that the destruction attributable to Hurricane Melissa demonstrates the truth of local weather change and that we should speed up our capability to answer this problem.

Background data

EU-CELAC relations

The EU and Latin America and the Caribbean have a long-standing partnership constructed on widespread values and a shared dedication to democracy and respect for human rights and the rule of regulation.

The EU’s strategic partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) dates again to 1999, when the primary bi-regional EU-LAC summit was held in Rio de Janeiro.

Together, the EU and the Latin American and Caribbean states symbolize:

• 14% of the world’s inhabitants
• 21% of worldwide GDP
• one third of UN membership

Previous summit

At the earlier summit in 2023 in Brussels, Latin America and the Caribbean undertook to resume their long-standing partnership and to work collectively to advertise peace and safety, defend human rights, sort out local weather change and obtain sustainable improvement.

About CELAC

Launched in 2010, CELAC is a regional bloc of 33 nations. This intergovernmental mechanism goals to unite these states with a purpose to strengthen the area’s political dialogue and social and cultural integration, enhance its high quality of life, stimulate financial development and advance the well-being of all its individuals.