The 15th Meeting of the Strategic Triangle Latin America and the Caribbean – Europe – Africa brought together government representatives, international organisations, think tanks, and civil society actors to reflect on the challenges of multilateralism, global governance, and opportunities for strategic cooperation among the three regions. Organised by the Institute for the Promotion of Latin America and the Caribbean (IPDAL), the meeting served as a high-level dialogue space aimed at strengthening interregional relations in a global context marked by profound geopolitical transformations.
The EU-LAC International Foundation, represented by Carlos Maza, Coordinator of Intergovernmental Relations, actively participated in the meeting through two strategic dialogue spaces addressing key issues for the future of international cooperation.
Between Idealism and Pragmatism: the challenge of reforming the multilateral system
In the panel entitled “Global governance in transition: the UN and the next multilateral cycle”, participants examined reform perspectives and the political dynamics that will shape the next phase of global multilateralism. The debate, moderated by Carlos Maza, took place at a particularly relevant moment for the United Nations system, ahead of the upcoming election of a new Secretary-General and the forthcoming renewal processes of international governance bodies, including the Security Council.
Participants reflected on the future role of the UN and the need to adapt multilateral institutions to contemporary challenges. They also identified significant points of convergence between Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa regarding the need to advance reforms that strengthen the legitimacy, effectiveness, and representativeness of the multilateral system. Among the key reflections shared during the exchange was the idea that any reform process must strike a balance between multilateral idealism and pragmatism, enabling ambitious change while remaining mindful of the complexities of the current international context.
Global Gateway and trade agreements: key drivers to deepen the bi-regional partnership
The EU-LAC International Foundation also took part in the side event “Promoting dialogue and facilitating strategic investment partnerships”, a space dedicated to exploring opportunities to strengthen bi-regional alliances through investment initiatives and strategic cooperation. During the session, Carlos Maza presented the joint work being developed by the EU-LAC Foundation and IPDAL on a discussion paper examining the still untapped potential of the Global Gateway Investment Agenda in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The exchange also provided an opportunity to assess the strategic prospects arising from trade agreements between the two regions, particularly the European Union–MERCOSUR Agreement, as well as its potential contribution to strengthening bi-regional economic and political relations. These reflections aim to provide relevant input for decision-makers in both regions ahead of the upcoming EU–CELAC ministerial meeting.
The participation of the EU-LAC International Foundation in the 15th Meeting of the Strategic Triangle Latin America and the Caribbean – Europe – Africa reaffirmed its commitment to promoting political dialogue, knowledge exchange, and the strengthening of cooperation between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean. Through its contributions to discussions on global governance, multilateralism, and strategic investments, the organisation continued to foster spaces for reflection and collaboration aimed at building shared responses to global challenges and strengthening the bi-regional partnership.