Tuesday 26 April, 2022

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Josep Borrell, will make an official visit to Chile from 27 April to 1 May. This is the first official visit by a high authority since the inauguration of the new government in Chile.

High Representative Borrell will hold meetings with the President of the Republic, Gabriel Boric; the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonia Urrejola; the Minister of the Interior, Izkia Siches; the Minister Secretary General of the Presidency, Giorgio Jackson and the Minister of Defence, Maya Fernández, among other high-ranking Chilean authorities. He will also hold meetings with the board of the Constitutional Convention, former President Ricardo Lagos, the business world and the media.

The objective of the visit of High Representative Borrell will be to highlight the broad agenda of common priorities between the European Union and Chile. As well as the commitment to strengthen the bilateral relationship and cooperation, including the early completion of the modernisation of the Association Agreement, a state-of-the-art agreement promoting new standards in the field of sustainable development, gender equality and fair trade.

It is worth highlighting the privileged relationship and good understanding between the EU and Chile, evidenced both in the extensive and fruitful bilateral contacts and in the joint action at the multilateral level. This relationship, based on common principles and values, such as the safeguarding of international law, territorial integrity and, ultimately, respectful and peaceful coexistence, takes on even greater relevance in the face of dramatic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the unjustified Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Among his activities, the EU HR/VP Josep Borrell will be the guest of honour at the event "The European Union and Chile together for climate action: from global to local and enhancing the development of green hydrogen" at ECLAC together with the Minister of Environment, Maisa Rojas, and the Minister of Energy, Claudio Huepe. In this event, she will present a new European Union programme to promote technical cooperation with Chile in the development of Green Hydrogen and the Country Action Plan of the Euroclima+ program, which will promote the implementation of climate change plans in the Chilean regions of Antofagasta and Magallanes.

Broadcast via streaming here and on Facebook

Together with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Antonia Urrejola, and the Ambassadors of the Member States accredited in Chile, he will inaugurate the new offices of the European Union in the country. It should be noted that the EU Delegation in Chile dates back to September 1964 when the European Coal and Steel Community decided to establish an office for Latin America in Santiago.

In the Hall of Honour of the University of Chile, Borrell will give a talk on "The European Union in the face of international crises", in which he will address the European Union's response to global challenges, such as the climate crisis or the war in Ukraine, and will strengthen the relationship with Chile as a key partner for the European Union at regional and multilateral level.

Broadcast via streaming here and on Facebook

The High Representative will visit one of the observation centres in Chile of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the most important intergovernmental science and technology organisation in astronomy, as an example of scientific cooperation and the contribution of the Member States of the European Union to the development of research in Chile.

Together with Claudio Huepe, Minister of Energy, the HR/VP Borrell will also visit the Cerro Dominador Solar Plant in Antofagasta, a symbol of the EU-Chile strategic alliance of values, technology and investment in the promotion of renewable energies.