During one week, between 31 October and 4 November 2022, was held in Buenos Aires, the 2nd Edition of the Training and Updating Programme for Young Diplomats on the EU-CELAC Strategic Partnership, in collaboration with the Foreign Service Institute of the Argentine Nation. In total, 27 Young Diplomats from both regions had the opportunity to participate in nine sessions given by 8 professors and representatives of both organising institutions, also from both regions. They contributed their ideas to a fruitful dialogue to strengthen the high-level political dialogue between the two regions. Notably, the III Edition appears in the Roadmap circulated as a result of the Third CELAC-EU Ministerial Meeting of 27 October 2022.
For its first in-person edition, it brought together a very representative group of young people from both regions. There were 27 experts from 18 different countries, plus 1 from the EU External Service (EEAS), with a perfect regional balance. There were 9 countries from Europe (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Hungary, Ireland, Lithuania, Netherlands) plus the European Union, and 8 from Latin America and the Caribbean (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Peru). The Foundation was pleased to have representatives from countries that usually participate relatively less in bi-regional exchanges, such as Croatia, Ireland, Hungary, Lithuania and Cuba.
In collaboration with ISEN and in the framework of the Argentine Presidency Pro tempore CELAC and taking into account the CELAC-EU Foreign Ministers' meeting, the course had an important working framework. Moreover, the issues raised during the week reflect the work priorities and common interests established the previous week, underlining the synergy between the high-level authorities of both regions. Integration processes in the EU, external actors in the bi-regional partnership, economic diplomacy and Agenda 2030, among others, were addressed.
This training programme responded to the Foundation's mandates to contribute to the strengthening of the bi-regional partnership process, and to help strengthen high-level actors, among which foreign ministries play a key role. A space for cooperation was created in which there was a dynamic dialogue between professors and participants.
The success of the Course was further highlighted at the Governing Board Meeting that took place in Brussels two weeks later, on 14 November 2022, where 2 participants of the Course represented their respective delegations.
We thank our counterpart ISEN, the teaching staff and each participant for their contribution to the success of this course in deepening the bi-regional relationship.
