Overview
Costa Rica is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet and a global advocate for the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. Costa Rica is the main trading partner of the EU in Central America, accounting for one third of the total trade flows in the region and is home to over 5.2 million people.
Our partnership
Through Global Gateway, the European Union and Costa Rica work together on an ambitious investment agenda aimed at enhancing sustainable transport, expanding secure digital connectivity, supporting the country’s agri-landscape strategy and promoting resilience in the health sector.
These efforts are accompanied by a closer partnership on sustainable finance, and an enhanced cooperation on security and migration.
EU-Costa Rica partnership documents can be found in the 'Related documents' section below.
Our key initiatives
- Transport
The EU and Costa Rica work together for a more modern, smart, efficient and safe transport system to improve the quality of life of citizens and reduce emissions. This includes scaling up the electrification of the urban bus fleet and a new electric passenger train in the Greater Metropolitan Area, accompanied by technical cooperation to ensure a comprehensive framework for integrated sustainable urban mobility as well as investments in the broader ecosystem to ensure circularity and a stable electricity supply. In a 360-degree approach, the initiative works with a broad range of stakeholders, promoting active mobility, working with local authorities to mobility planning and public space, as well as as integrating women and youth into the sector.
- Digital
Under the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, Costa Rica and the EU are building up secure and meaningful digital connectivity with a new cyber-forensics lab, investment in digital skills trainings, and 5G tested. Key initiatives focus on:
- 5G Network Deployment: In 2024, Costa Rica launched its first standalone 5G network using European technology. Covering urban centres and rural areas, it supports faster internet access and IoT development across various sectors. In 2025, a 5G Testbed was set up to allow businesses to explore advanced technologies and helping bridge the digital divide. The European industry is collaborating with the National Learning Institute to foster digital skills, leveraging 5G technology to drive innovation and support entrepreneurship throughout Costa Rica.
- Connectivity Expansion through shared Satellite Project: Costa Rica has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hispasat to explore a shared satellite initiative which aims to provide high-speed, sovereign, and reliable communications, expanding broadband access in remote areas and ensuring Costa Rica retains full data control using European technology. In the short-term, this collaboration is expected to connect more than 300 schools, training centres and public entities.
- Enhanced Cybersecurity: The EU and Costa Rica have set up a cyber-intelligence centre in Costa Rica, focusing on AI-driven solutions to combat organised crime. Costa Rica joined the Latin America and Caribbean Cyber Competence Centre (LAC4), ensuring robust cyber defence and collaborative security developments.
- Sustainable finance
The EU and Costa Rica seek to step up collaboration on sustainable finance. The EU supported the development of Costa Rica’s sustainable finance taxonomy and invested in the country’s first blue bond (issued by the National Bank of Costa Rica). Costa Rica continues to work with EU investors in this domain under the Global Green Bond Initiative which seeks to facilitate the flow of private capital from institutional investors into climate and environmental projects in EU partner countries, thereby increasing their access to capital.
- Agriculture and fishing
Costa Rica and the EU are boosting sustainable agro-landscape production.
- Migration
The EU and Costa Rica are enhancing the socio-economic integration of immigrants and digitalising immigration processes and initiatives.
