EU-CELAC summit, 9 November 2025
Main results
The fourth EU-CELAC summit brought together 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 current role as CELAC pro tempore president.
The current multipolar world requires a multilateral response to the multiple challenges we face. The EU-CELAC summit in Santa Marta demonstrates the value of dialogue and will allow us to make our natural bond even stronger, grow together and protect each other.
President Costa
At the summit, leaders and representatives from both regions reiterated the strategic importance of a bi-regional relationship based on:
- shared values and interests
- resilient, inclusive and democratic societies
- the promotion and protection of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
- the rule of law
- free and transparent elections
- multilateralism and international cooperation
During the summit, leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including:
- the defence of multilateralism
- trade and investment
- the green and digital transitions
- social cohesion
- cooperation in the fields of citizen security, justice, and the fight against transnational organised crime
Leaders adopted a joint declaration at the end of the summit.
We are driven by the will to deepen the historical ties that unite us, at a time when multilateralism is being questioned all over the world and there is a continued need for a more just, equitable and democratic international order.
CELAC-EU joint declaration
- Joint declaration of the CELAC-EU summit 2025, 9 November 2025
- Press statement by President António Costa following the EU-CELAC summit, 9 November 2025
Family picture
Multilateralism
Leaders reaffirmed their adherence to the principles and purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, in particular the sovereign equality of states and respect for territorial integrity and political independence, and reiterated their opposition to the threat or use of force and to any action not in accordance with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
Leaders underlined the need to strengthen the multilateral system, with the United Nations at its core, and to promote more effective, inclusive, transparent, and democratic global governance, with full respect for international law.
They also agreed to promote fairer, more inclusive and more effective international financial institutions that allocate resources adequately to development in its three dimensions and ensure a greater representation of developing countries.
Foreign affairs
Leaders noted with concern the adverse impact of the increasing number of wars and conflicts around the world and expressed the need to ensure the protection of civilians and the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Ukraine
Leaders supported all efforts to achieve a sustainable ceasefire and to promote a political dialogue aimed at a just, comprehensive and lasting peace and to encourage de-escalation and foster direct dialogue in accordance with international law.
Gaza
Leaders called on all parties to fully commit to implementing all phases of the Comprehensive Plan to end the Gaza Conflict, and to refrain from any actions that could jeopardise the agreement.
We reiterate our strong commitment to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, based on the two-state solution.
CELAC-EU joint declaration
Leaders also called for immediate, unimpeded access and the sustained distribution of humanitarian aid at scale both into and throughout Gaza.
Haiti
Leaders reaffirmed their support for Haiti and its efforts to achieve political, economic, and social stability, with the backing of the international community.
They remain committed to continuing to combat the illicit trafficking of arms and ammunition destined for Haiti, in order to ensure stability, in accordance with the principles of self-determination of peoples, sovereignty, and solidarity.
EU position on the situation in the Middle East
EU position on the situation in the Middle East
Trade and investment
Leaders acknowledged the strategic importance of agreements fostering closer economic and trade ties and enhancing economic security and prosperity.
We will continue taking the necessary steps to expand and deepen the network of trade agreements between our two regions.
CELAC-EU joint declaration
Leaders also highlighted the importance of advancing jointly in:
- reducing trade tensions
- facilitating international trade
- improving market access
- ensuring food security
Over the past decade, trade in goods with CELAC has grown by over 52% and trade in service has almost doubled. More than one million jobs in the EU are linked to exports to Latin American and Caribbean states.
EU-CELAC relations: facts and figures
EU-CELAC relations: facts and figures
Global Gateway
Leaders welcomed the development and collaborative potential of the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda (GGIA).
Launched in 2021, the GGIA allows the EU member states and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to work together to invest in projects that boost growth in four areas:
- the green transition
- human development
- the digital transformation
- health resilience and vaccines
- EU-Latin America and the Caribbean Global Gateway Investment Agenda (European Commission)
Global Gateway
Climate, environment and energy transition
Leaders welcomed and pledged their support for the successful holding of COP30 in Belém do Pará, Brazil.
We recognise the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with the 1.5°C trajectory and will intensify our efforts accordingly in line with the Paris Agreement.
CELAC-EU joint declaration
They also recognised the opportunities that energy transition brings for sustainable and just economic development. In this context, they will harness the potential of the Global Gateway strategy to strengthen regional energy interconnection in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Digital transformation
Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to respect, protect, and promote all human rights in the digital space.
We will promote safe, secure, and trustworthy artificial intelligence and its ethical governance, with a responsible and inclusive focus, investment into secure digital infrastructure and capacity building, and advocate for a human-centric, secure, and open digital transformation.
CELAC-EU joint declaration
Leaders acknowledged the progress achieved by the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, launched in 2023 under the Global Gateway strategy, which fosters collaboration, investments and the exchange of best practices between the EU and the LAC region.
They also recognised the need to address and counter disinformation and misinformation, as well as hate speech, cooperating with all relevant stakeholders through the dissemination of reliable, verifiable, objective and contextualised information.
Cooperation on citizen security
Leaders reaffirmed their determination to scale up bi-regional efforts to address common citizen security challenges and strengthen the rule of law.
They underscored their shared priority of enhancing cooperation in dismantling transnational criminal networks, especially those involved in:
- the illicit trafficking of drugs, firearms, ammunition and explosives
- cybercrime
- human trafficking
- smuggling of migrants
- illegal mining
- crimes that affect the environment
- illicit trafficking of cultural property
- financial crimes
Within the framework of the summit, the EU and 18 LAC countries (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 aims to strengthen cooperation on citizen security between the European Union and Latin American and Caribbean countries.
Pact on Care
On 9 November, the EU, together with 16 countries 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 aims to facilitate regular exchanges on progress and best practices in the care economy, including policies, programmes, services, regulatory frameworks, and institutional structures.
EU-Caribbean leaders' meeting
In the margins of the EU-CELAC summit, leaders from the EU and 12 countries in 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 meeting demonstrated a shared determination to give renewed visibility and strategic depth to the EU-Caribbean partnership, and that both sides should ensure to seek the full implementation on trade and economic agreements.
EIB initiative on electricity grids and clean energy
In the margins of the EU-CELAC summit, the European Investment Bank (EIB) organised an event at which they committed to finance $1.15 billion to transmission and distribution projects, as well as renewable energy initiatives across Central America.
In his speech, President Costa emphasised that this commitment demonstrates that cooperation between the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean is more than just the CELAC summit. He also stressed that the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa demonstrates the reality of climate change and that we must accelerate our capacity to respond to this challenge.
Background information
EU-CELAC relations
The EU and Latin America and the Caribbean have a long-standing partnership built on common values and a shared commitment to democracy and respect for human rights and the rule of law.
The EU's strategic partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) dates back to 1999, when the first bi-regional EU-LAC summit was held in Rio de Janeiro.
Together, the EU and the Latin American and Caribbean states represent:
- 14% of the world's population
- 21% of global GDP
- one third of UN membership
Previous summit
At the previous summit in 2023 in Brussels, Latin America and the Caribbean undertook to renew their long-standing partnership and to work together to promote peace and security, protect human rights, tackle climate change and achieve sustainable development.
About CELAC
Launched in 2010, CELAC is a regional bloc of 33 countries. This intergovernmental mechanism aims to unite these states in order to strengthen the region's political dialogue and social and cultural integration, improve its quality of life, stimulate economic growth and advance the well-being of all its people.
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