Context
Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have entered a period of gradual recovery following the severe economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. While growth has resumed, the region continues to face deep structural challenges such as insecurity, inequality, informal employment, gender-based violence and vulnerability to climate change.
Persisting social tensions, uneven economic recovery, and democratic challenges have added pressure to already fragile political systems. Economic hardship, particularly for women and youth, remains a major obstacle to social inclusion and stability. The region’s exposure to climate-related disasters and external shocks continues to underscore the urgent need for sustainable and resilient development pathways.
Our approach
The European Union (EU) is deepening its strategic partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean to advance a fair, green, and digital transition to unlock the region’s huge potential while ensuring a safe social environment.
The EU and LAC are partners of choice in today’s challenging global context. The two regions have developed one of the densest networks of association, trade, political and cooperation agreements, between the EU and 27 of the 33 LAC countries. Under Global Gateway, the EU’s positive offer to deliver sustainable and trusted connections with partner countries, and acting as Team Europe, the EU is boosting smart, clean, and secure investments in physical sustainable infrastructure in the areas of digital, climate, energy and transport while also strengthening enabling operating environments. This includes regulatory frameworks and investments in people in areas such as education, research, and health.
For the Caribbean, the Samoa Agreement guides the shared agenda. Recognising the region’s particular vulnerability to climate change and external shocks, the partnership prioritises:
- Strengthening environmental sustainability and climate resilience
- Tansitioning to a sustainable and diversified economy that supports decent jobs and growth, and promotes trade and investment
- Enhancing good governance
- Building inclusive and secure societies where institutions are accountable, and no one is left behind.
Since the EU-CELAC Summit of July 2023, both regions have made tangible progress in implementing the LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda, guided by the Joint Declaration, Joint Roadmap, and the New EU Agenda for Relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. These initiatives have reinvigorated political dialogue and opened a new chapter in the EU-LAC partnership focused on shared priorities and joint action.
Our Global Gateway Initiatives and EU programmes
Together with its Member States, European financial institutions, development banks and the private sector, the EU continues to mobilise the full potential of Team Europe to support sustainable investments and inclusive growth in LAC.
The Global Gateway provides the overarching framework for this cooperation — a values-driven approach that promotes transparency, sustainability, and long-term impact. Spanning 5 key sectors (digital, climate and energy, transport, health, and education and research), Global Gateway covers hard infrastructure as well as enabling environment, regulatory frameworks, norms, standards and good governance principles. Within this framework, the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda sets out over 100 projects, around which the EU is focusing investments and cooperation.
A detailed outline of EU cooperation with the Americas and the Caribbean during the budget period (2021-2027) can be found in the ‘Multi-annual Indicative Plan’ (MIP) below.
Global Gateway flagship initiatives
- The EU-LAC Digital Alliance is a major step forward for digital cooperation between the regions, strengthening the EU's digital engagement with LAC through a mutually beneficial alliance. Two key project under the Alliance include:
- An EU-LAC Supercomputing Network that will enhance the use of existing HPC resources within Latin America and promote stronger ties with the European HPC ecosystem by operating on the principle of shared infrastructure. The network aims to facilitate access to existing HPC resources in both regions, including computing time and services provided by established HPC centres. These centres can extend their resources to countries that currently lack such capabilities.
- The BELLA connectivity programme linking the European and Latin American research and education communities.
- The Regional Electricity Integration: supports LAC partner countries in developing renewable generation infrastructure, transmission, and international electrical interconnections while at the same time promoting a regulatory environment that facilitates the gradual integration of the continent's various electricity markets.
- The Valorisation of Sargassum: highlights the EU’s commitment to help turn sargassum into an economic opportunity by supporting the development of sustainable value chains and green investment in the Caribbean.
Regional programmes
- On security, EL PAcCTO II seeks to contribute to security and justice in Latin America by supporting the fight against transnational organised crime. COPOLAD III supports the implementation of more effective drug policies. EUROFRONT supports the fight against human trafficking and migrant smuggling in Latin America
- On green related matters, Euroclima builds partnerships between the European Union (EU) and the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) regions to drive a green and just transition. Through bilateral dialogues and regional collaboration, the programme engages with 33 partner countries and key regional organisations to identify priorities and translate them into concrete actions, fostering long-term environmental and climate resilience. Amazonia+ focuses on the fight against deforestation and strengthening indigenous and local communities’ roles. The Five Great Forest programme works on forest protection issues in Central America.
- On social issues, the Inclusive Societies in LAC programme aims to reduce gender and other inequalities. It promotes the social dimension of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda through a 360° approach that is participatory and multi-stakeholder, fostering collaboration between public, private, and civil society actors to strengthen social cohesion across the region.
- The Latin America and Caribbean Investment Facility (LACIF) mobilises funding for development projects by combining EU grants with financial resources from European and regional financial institutions, governments and the private sector.
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