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Joint statement: XIV Uruguay–European Union Joint Commission Meeting

04.06.2026
Montevideo
  1. On June 4, 2026, in Montevideo, the XIV European Union–Uruguay Joint Cooperation Commission, established under the 1992 Framework Cooperation Agreement, was held. It was co-chaired by the Director General for Political Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Martín Vidal, and the Director for the Americas of the European External Action Service, Ambassador Pelayo Castro Zuzuárregui. This visit also takes place within the framework of Uruguay’s pro tempore presidency of CELAC, with an event dedicated to the importance of the bi-regional relationship, a forum on the EU–CELAC partnership, a meeting of the EU–CELAC coordination mechanism, and a meeting of the Governing Board of the EU-LAC Foundation—the first to be held in Latin America—organized in Montevideo between June 3 and 5.
  2. The representatives of Uruguay and the European Union reviewed the current state of relations at the bilateral, regional, and multilateral levels, highlighting the broad degree of sectoral cooperation between the two parties.
  3. They reiterated their firm commitment to continuing to deepen the bilateral relationship, grounded in shared values and principles, including the defence of democracy, the rule of law, the promotion and protection of human rights, the fight against climate change, the strengthening of multilateralism, and the conviction that international cooperation is an essential tool of mutual benefit for addressing contemporary global challenges and promoting sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development.
  4. They also highlighted the importance of advancing the implementation of the "Seville Commitment", a non-binding document adopted at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) of the United Nations, which aims to renew the global financing framework for sustainable development, promoting reforms to the international financial architecture, greater resource mobilisation for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the strengthening of multilateralism.
  5. In this regard, the Uruguayan side expressed its gratitude for the European side’s unconditional support throughout its sustained transition-to-development process and in strengthening capacities with respect to triangular cooperation. They also expressed their intention to advance cooperation in areas such as the digital, green, and just transition, mobility, renewable energy, and the decarbonization of the economy, as well as gender equity and social cohesion, all linked to the European Global Gateway initiative. In this context, special value is attached to the European side’s contribution through the Euroclima and Inclusive Societies programmes. Under the former, progress is being made in implementing the actions of the two Country Windows and the Second Country Dialogue, demonstrating confidence in the work carried out through coordinated inter-institutional efforts by Uruguay. Under the latter, Uruguay has been one of the first countries in the region where actions addressing the social dimension of European investments have been implemented.
  6. Furthermore, both parties expressed their concern about the current context of increasing sophistication of transnational organised crime and the associated challenges to cross-border security, and agreed to deepen their cooperation on security and justice systems. They highlighted that phenomena such as drug trafficking, money laundering, illicit arms trafficking, human trafficking, and the use of new technologies by criminal organisations require coordinated responses, effective international cooperation, and the strengthening of institutional capacities. They also emphasised the importance of a rule-of-law-based approach, respect for human rights, and progress towards greater convergence of standards and regulatory frameworks, for example in areas such as asset recovery, digital evidence, and data protection, in order to facilitate more effective judicial cooperation. The Uruguayan side highlighted the high relevance of the cooperation offered by the European Union, including within the framework of the Citizen Security Alliance at the November 2025 CELAC-EU Summit. In this regard, the experience and support of the European Union are particularly valuable for promoting comprehensive approaches, strengthening national capacities, and reinforcing operational cooperation mechanisms and information exchange between both regions. Finally, both parties highlighted the relevance of regional cooperation, including within the framework of the EU-LAC Alliance for Citizen Security and the commitments of the November 2025 CELAC-EU Summit. Specifically, they underlined the importance of CLASI-EU cooperation, as demonstrated by the first CLASI operational action plans, which Uruguay is committed to promoting, and the signing of the Brasília Treaty, which will enable AMERIPOL to strengthen its cooperation with Europol.
  7. Uruguay particularly values the regional and multidimensional approach promoted by Cooperation Programmes such as COPOLAD, PAcCTO, EUROFRONT, SEACOP, EU Crimario, and COLIBRÍ, which have significantly contributed to strengthening national and regional capacities, allowing progress in more effective coordination mechanisms to address threats that require shared responses.
  8. The importance of cooperation in education, science, technology, and innovation through the Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe programmes is highlighted; these represent academic mobility opportunities, particularly for young people, teachers, and researchers, as well as mutually beneficial cooperation between higher education institutions, research centres, and public institutions from both regions, with the aim of addressing global challenges.
  9. Regarding the economic-trade link, they welcomed the provisional application of the Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) as of 1 May 2026, which has marked the beginning of a new phase in birregional relations between the signatory Parties.
  10. Both parties recalled that the Agreement between the European Union and MERCOSUR, signed in Asunción in January 2026, is not just a trade agreement, but also includes a political and sectoral cooperation pillar aimed at strengthening cooperation in numerous areas such as human rights, sustainable development, climate change, the fight against transnational crime and cybercrime, migration, taxation, the digital economy, among others—areas that are indispensable to the agreement as a whole. Therefore, both parties expressed their desire for the EMPA to also be applied provisionally soon, in accordance with their respective national procedures.
  11. Regarding investments, Uruguay positively valued the historic confidence that the European Union has placed in the country, with the EU currently accounting for almost 40% of total foreign direct investment. It is worth noting that the European Union is the main foreign investor, with a significant presence in strategic sectors such as forestry, energy, global services, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), and agribusiness, contributing to the productive transformation of the country.
  12. On the other hand, they discussed matters of common interest related to the challenges posed by the current international scenario. In this regard, they exchanged views on the regional and global situation, sharing their concern over repeated violations of international law, human rights, and international humanitarian law, which not only affect the parties in conflict but also have direct effects on the entire civilian population, primarily women and girls.
  13. In this context, the European Union recognises the clear and consistent position that Uruguay has maintained since the beginning of the aggression against Ukraine in defence of international law, including the Charter of the United Nations, in accordance with, in particular, the principles of territorial integrity, sovereign equality, and the peaceful settlement of disputes. The European side expressed its desire for Uruguay to consider joining the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. Both parties agreed on their shared commitment to dialogue and diplomacy as the fundamental path for the resolution of international disputes, with a view to achieving a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine.
  14. Regarding the links between both regions, they celebrated the current dynamism and strengthening of relations between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), reflecting a strategic birregional partnership based on shared values, converging interests, and an increasingly broad cooperation agenda. In this sense, they highlighted the relevance of the CELAC-EU Summits held in 2023 and 2025, from which joint declarations with concrete commitments emerged, aimed at deepening political dialogue, cooperation, and joint action in the face of common challenges.
  15. In this framework, Uruguay, in its capacity as Pro Tempore President of CELAC, has reaffirmed its will to continue promoting birregional exchanges, in particular through the meeting of CELAC and EU foreign ministers within the framework of the United Nations High-Level Week in September 2026, and expressed its commitment to advance, during its presidency, in the concretion of the CELAC-EU Roadmap and the beginning of its effective implementation. Likewise, the CELAC Pro Tempore Presidency expressed its interest in continuing to promote birregional initiatives currently under development, including the EU-Latin America and the Caribbean Alliance for Citizen Security, the Birregional Care Pact (EU-LAC), and the Digital Alliance, as well as the CELAC-EU agenda on Science, Technology, and Innovation, recognising their strategic relevance in fostering inclusive, sustainable, and knowledge-based development.
  16. Finally, the Heads of Delegation reiterated their commitment to continue deepening the bilateral relationship for the benefit of the populations of both parties, based on shared values and a common vision in favour of multilateralism, dialogue, and international cooperation. They also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining close coordination in the face of global challenges affecting international peace and security, recognising that phenomena such as armed conflicts, climate change, transnational organised crime, humanitarian crises, and growing inequalities require collective, solidarity-based, and sustained responses, in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.