Global Gateway: European Union and Costa Rica agree on cooperation priorities and launch biodiversity protection initiative

• Jutta Urpilainen, EU Commissioner for International Partnerships, visited Costa Rica ahead of the EU-CELAC Summit, which will be organised in Brussels in July.
• During her visit to Costa Rica, Commissioner Urpilainen launched the EU’s Multiannual Indicative Programming with Costa Rica until 2027. This includes €14 million of support to strengthen EU-Costa Rican cooperation over the coming years.
• As part of Global Gateway, the European Union’s strategy to build sustainable and trusted connections with our partner countries, the EU will contribute to Costa Rica’s commitment to protect and conserve at least 30% of its territory by 2030.
• The European Union and the Costa Rican Conservation Agency (SINAC) part of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) launch a new project to boost the efficient management of biodiversity as part of EUROCLIMA Programme.

As part of her visit to San José today, EU Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen launched the European Union’s Multiannual Indicative Programming with Costa Rica and announced a new biodiversity project in line with the country’s ambitious 30x30 Strategy.

Preparing the EU-CELAC Summit with President Chaves

The Commissioner’s visit comes in the run-up to the EU-CELAC Summit, taking place in July. The EU is further enhancing its engagement with Latin American and Caribbean partners ahead of the Summit. Stepping up bilateral and multilateral cooperation is ever more important in the current challenging geopolitical situation. The Commissioner will discuss these issues with President Chaves and several high-level government representatives in a round table discussion about Global Gateway, the EU’s global investment strategy.

EU–Costa Rica bilateral programme facilitates the Global Gateway Investment Agenda

The EU’s Multiannual Indicative Programming with Costa Rica until 2027 includes €14 million of support to strengthen EU-Costa Rican cooperation over the coming years. Prepared jointly with Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of National Planning and Economic Policy, the EU and Costa Rica will focus this new effort on three common priorities:

1. decarbonisation – including renewable energy and transport electrification
2. digitalisation and innovation
3. support on refugees and migration issues.

These cooperation priorities until 2027 will serve as a strong foundation to facilitate the EU Global Gateway Investment Agenda for Costa Rica, which is currently under preparation and is planned to be presented at the EU-CELAC Summit as part of the regional Investment Agenda.

New Biodiversity Initiative

Together with the Costa Rican Conservation Agency (SINAC), the EU also launched today the "Costa Rica is Biodiversity 30x30" initiative. This project is part of Euroclima programme and will contribute to the maintenance and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem services through sustainable management and the implementation of Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OMEC) as part of Costa Rica's climate change adaptation strategy.

The project is implemented by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and executed by the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) with support from the University of Costa Rica Foundation. The €2 million programme will focus on the following objectives:

1. Addressing gaps and Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures
2. Management of ecosystem services
3. Biodiversity monitoring
4. Ecosystem restoration.

The project is part of the 30x30 Strategy that seeks to ensure the conservation of 30 percent of the planet's land and ocean area by 2030, an initiative launched by the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) during Pre-COP 25 and co-chaired by Costa Rica, France and the United Kingdom.

Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, said: "Costa Rica is a valuable partner of the EU and a globally recognised leader in biodiversity protection. The EU wants to deepen its cooperation with Costa Rica and the region to respond to common challenges and promote fair green and digital twin transition.  To do this, we are preparing a Global Gateway Investment Agenda in the run-up to the EU-CELAC. Today’s launches of cooperation priorities and the new biodiversity program, which will support Costa Rica in reaching the 30by30 target, demonstrate the EU’s commitment for Costa Rica and the region.”