The EU-LAC Foundation took part in an intensive programme of activities in Paris as part of the Latin America and Caribbean Weeks and the 2026 Congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA), further strengthening its role as a platform for dialogue and cooperation between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean.
During the mission, the organisation contributed to conferences, academic panels, specialised workshops and economic forums, while also holding bilateral meetings with government representatives, international organisations, research centres and private sector stakeholders.
Colloquium with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Institute of the Americas and the French Development Agency
One of the first highlights of the agenda was a colloquium organised jointly with the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Institute of the Americas and the French Development Agency. Bringing together more than 100 participants from civil society, the private sector, government institutions and European Union bodies, the event focused on illicit economies, transnational networks and their impact on democracy.
The EU-LAC Foundation contributed to the opening session, placing the discussion within the framework of the commitments adopted at the EU-CELAC Summit in Santa Marta on security issues and emphasising the importance of a whole-of-society approach to identifying opportunities for cooperation.
At the conclusion of the colloquium, the organising institutions agreed to compile the key findings and recommendations into a joint report. Participants expressed strong interest in the Foundation’s work and highly valued the quality of the discussions.
Participation in the LASA 2026 Congress
The EU-LAC Foundation had a strong presence at the LASA 2026 Congress, the leading international academic gathering dedicated to the study of Latin America and the Caribbean, which brought together thousands of scholars, researchers and institutional representatives in Paris.
As part of the programme, the EU-LAC Foundation organised a roundtable on the strategic relations between Latin America and the Caribbean, China, the United States and the European Union. The discussion explored the challenges and opportunities arising from the transformation of the international order, addressing issues such as geopolitical reconfiguration, the region’s strategic autonomy, and the implications for international cooperation, public policy and global governance.
The session featured experts from leading institutions, including the GIGA German Institute for Global and Area Studies, FLACSO Ecuador, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle, the Institut des Amériques and the University of Salamanca, providing comparative and regional perspectives on these issues.
The organisation also took part in a specialised workshop on the global cocaine economy and its local impacts, organised in collaboration with GIGA. Discussions focused on the transnational dynamics of drug trafficking and their implications for governance and security. During the workshop, the Foundation presented its Policy Brief No. 12, "Drugs, Ports and Other Challenges: In Need of a Comprehensive and Coordinated Multilevel Strategy", highlighting the need for integrated and coordinated responses to transnational drug trafficking and its security, governance, social and environmental dimensions.
In addition, the EU-LAC Foundation moderated a panel on the future of the EU-LAC Common Area for Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, which examined how bi-regional cooperation can strengthen research, innovation and sustainable development.
Taken together, these activities provided valuable opportunities to exchange perspectives with representatives from academia, public institutions and international organisations, strengthen links with the global academic community, and reaffirm the Foundation’s commitment to promoting dialogue and cooperation between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union.
Caribbean Days organised by UNESCO, CARICOM and the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe
As part of the Caribbean Days organised by UNESCO, CARICOM and the Caribbean Chamber of Commerce in Europe, the EU-LAC Foundation presented its work to representatives of Caribbean countries accredited in France, the United Nations, the European Commission, other international organisations and private sector stakeholders.
The event provided an opportunity to exchange views on economic cooperation and regional integration, as well as to discuss the findings of the OECD’s Caribbean Development Dynamics 2026 report.
OECD–IDB Latin America and the Caribbean Economic Forum
The EU-LAC Foundation also took part in the OECD–IDB Economic Forum for Latin America and the Caribbean, organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Inter-American Development Bank. The event brought together around 200 participants, including more than ten regional ministers, alongside representatives from the European Commission, the United Nations, civil society and the private sector.
The forum provided an opportunity to hold meetings with the leadership of the OECD Development Centre and its Latin America and Caribbean Unit, with a view to exploring future areas of cooperation.
A positive outcome for strengthening bi-regional relations
The mission in Paris confirmed the growing interest in the EU-LAC Foundation’s work and its capacity to articulate dialogue spaces between governments, academia, civil society and the private sector. The activities carried out helped advance new partnerships, identify concrete areas of cooperation, and reinforce a shared commitment to a more strategic, inclusive and results-oriented bi-regional relationship.