Unión Europea

The European Commission supports the European Union – Latin America and Caribbean Foundation

Today, the European Commission decided to provide financial support to the recently established European Union – Latin America and Caribbean Foundation (EU-LAC Foundation). The Foundation was created by the EU and LAC Heads of State and Government at the VI bi-regional Summit in Madrid in May 2010. Aims of this new initiative include strengthening of the biregional partnership, triggering of debate on common strategies and actions as well as enhancing the visibility of EU – LAC relations.

The Foundation will promote mutual understanding between the EU and LAC regions and their people, encouraging the participation and input of civil society and other social actors, such as the academic and private sectors.

Within the framework of present and future bi-regional dialogue, the Foundation's objectives include advancing inter-regional knowledge of the other's culture, history, traditions and political, economic and social relationships.

Through its networking and different activities, the Foundation will also be responsible for enhancing both the visibility and presence of the EU and LAC in the partner region as well as the profile of the bi-regional partnership in the wider world.

The European Commission fully supports this exciting joint bi-regional initiative and invites both its Latin American and Caribbean partners and the European Member States to follow in its footsteps. The EU-LAC Foundation was inaugurated on 7th of November 2011 in Hamburg, Germany. Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, former European Commissioner for External Relations, was appointed President of the Foundation and Mr. Jorge Valdez, former Ambassador of the Peruvian Mission to the EU, Executive Director. The financial support for the Foundation is worth €4.5 million.

 Background [14 KB]

For more information please contact:

Alexander GOTZ

Unit G1 Geographical Coordination Latin America and Caribbean

EuropeAid Development and Co-operation Directorate-General European Commission

Phone: +32 2 298 76 15

Email: aleksander.gotz@ec.europa.eu