The meeting of the XIII European Union - Uruguay Joint Cooperation Commission, established by the 1992 Framework Cooperation Agreement, took place in Brussels on October 17, 2023. It was co-chaired by Javier Niño Pérez, Deputy Director General for the Americas of the European External Action Service, and Ambassador Luis Bermúdez, Director General for Political Affairs of the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The representatives of the European Union and Uruguay reviewed the current state of relations at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels, highlighting the numerous high-level visits, in both directions, during the last year and a half, which have served to reinforce the already excellent relationship between both parties. The parties reiterated their shared commitment to continue working together and deepen their close bilateral relationship, based on the shared principles of democracy, rule of law, respect for human rights, multilateralism and international cooperation. As part of this deepening of the relationship, the parties agreed on the possibility of exploring an update of the bilateral legal framework.

Topics of common interest and international challenges, both current and future, were discussed. On foreign policy issues, the delegations highlighted their identical positions on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, condemned by both parties as a violation of international law, sovereignty and territorial integrity. On the other hand, the parties were concerned about the recent crisis caused by the Hamas attacks on the civilian population in Israel, attacks that they unequivocally condemned, and exchanged ideas on how to support the efforts of the international community to find long-term solutions that ensure the peace and security of Israelis and Palestinians. The parties also evoked other international crises, such as that of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Regarding ties between the two regions, both parties celebrated the reactivation of relations between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States following the summit last July. The European External Action Service praised and thanked the constructive role played by Uruguay in the development of said summit, and in general in the relations between the two regions. They also exchanged impressions on the state of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Mercosur after the last round of negotiations, and expressed their common desire to conclude the negotiations before the end of 2023. In addition to generating wealth and prosperity, the Agreement will serve to strengthen economic ties and cooperation between the two regions.

In the field of bilateral relations, both parties congratulated each other on the boost of European investments in Uruguay, which reach almost 40% of total foreign investment in the country. The European Union and Uruguay highlighted the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on energy, which places special emphasis on the production of green hydrogen and renewable energy, an area that offers enormous opportunities for investment and growth. Uruguay shared its environmental achievements, such as stimulus policies to preserve and augment native forests, having achieved an almost 100% renewable energy matrix, and the issuance of “sustainability bonds” linked to environmental objectives. The European Union explained its energy transition and its environmental policy. Both parties reaffirmed their ambitious goals for the COP28 on Climate Change. On digital issues, in addition to exchanging points of view on 5G networks and digital signatures, both parties expressed their satisfaction with the signing of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance at the Summit and discussed the next steps to be taken, as well as the accession from Uruguay to the Latin American and Caribbean Cyber-skills Center (LAC4).

The European Union and Uruguay recognized the importance of financial assistance to strengthen bilateral cooperation. The European Union highlighted the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda presented at the EU-CELAC Summit and from which some priority projects for Uruguay were discussed. The progress of cooperation projects on topics such as security, social governance, green transformation and digital transformation was also reviewed.

Both delegations agreed that cooperation is essential to achieve the objectives of their priorities and international commitments, within the framework of compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals established in the 2030 Agenda.

The delegations agreed that cooperation plays a fundamental role in achieving the objectives of their priorities and international commitments. They pointed out the importance of supporting Uruguay in its transition process to development, as well as strengthening triangular cooperation with Uruguay. They also expressed their intention to intensify cooperation in the field of the new European cooperation instruments for the period 2021-2027 on priorities such as the digital, green and fair transition, based on shared universal values.

Likewise, they recognized the role and importance of the participation of Uruguayan institutions in regional programmes, providing other countries in the region with technical cooperation and exchange of information, among other relevant aspects.

The parties also had a broad exchange on current and future areas of cooperation, such as science, technology and innovation, infrastructure, social issues (education in particular), climate change, health and early childhood care, and reaffirmed their commitment to continue improving and deepening work in all areas of common interest.

These concrete examples of dialogue and cooperation are proof of the progress that has been achieved over the last year, since the XII Joint Cooperation Commission of November 2021. The European Union and Uruguay reiterated their commitment to continue strengthening their cooperation and bilateral relations, for the benefit of the populations of both parties.