The X Ordinary Meeting of the Board of Governors of the EU-LAC Foundation took place on Friday, May 24, 2024. At this first meeting of 2024, the Board of Governors received an update on the functioning of the organization, the initiatives implemented and the results achieved during 2023 and throughout the term of office of the current authorities.
The meeting was attended by the President of the EU-LAC Foundation, Leire Pajín Iraola, and the Executive Director, Dr. Adrián Bonilla, together with 36 delegations from the Foundation's Members, 20 of them from the European Union and the EU itself, and (LAC) 16 from Latin America and the Caribbean. The meeting was chaired by the High Commissioner of St. Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Kingdom, Cenio E. Lewis, and the Deputy Director General for the Americas of the European External Action Service (EEAS), Pelayo Castro.
Lewis underscored the role of the Foundation as a key link for bi-regional relations. Castro, for his part, mentioned the links already established between the two regions and how they face the challenges of the shared agenda.
Senator Andy Grote, Senator for Home Affairs and Sport of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, welcomed the representatives of the Board of Governors to the city. Mr. Grote highlighted the commitment of both Germany and Hamburg to the Foundation and the objectives it represents for deepening relations between the EU and CELAC.
Dr. Bonilla presented the events and activities carried out in 2023 and those that have taken place in 2024. In this regard, he highlighted the issues prioritized by the organization during this period, which are part of the shared agenda between the EU and LAC.
The meeting also saw the presentation of the 2021-2024 Mandate Report of the Foundation's current authorities, whose term of office is coming to an end. The work carried out by the President and the Executive Director was recognized by the members of the Board of Governors present at the meeting.