Representatives from the 33 countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) gathered on Friday, March 1st, in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, at the VIII Summit of Heads of State and Government of the regional mechanism. The EU-LAC Foundation participated as an observer in the meeting.
Dr. Adrián Bonilla, Executive Director of the EU-LAC Foundation, stated: "On the global stage, CELAC represents the entire region, and therefore, along with the European Union, it constitutes and co-chairs the EU-LAC Foundation, which is the intergovernmental body dedicated to promoting the bi-regional strategic partnership and integrating civil society into the policies agreed upon by the member states of both organisations."
Established in 2010 by the Heads of State and Government of CELAC and the EU, the EU-LAC Foundation includes among its members all the countries of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. The Board of Governors of the Foundation is co-chaired by CELAC through its Pro Tempore Presidency.
During the VIII Summit, the Pro Tempore Presidency of CELAC was transferred to Honduras. Xiomara Castro, the president of that country, emphasised the positive relationship and cooperation among Latin American countries, achieving a zone of peace despite the challenges that have arisen in the region and the world in recent years.
At the meeting in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the political leaders of the region reaffirmed their commitment to peace and integration as pillars of CELAC. At the conclusion of the Summit, the Kingstown Declaration was adopted, emphasizing the need to strengthen cooperation in areas such as technological development, financial resources, peace dialogues, and health cooperation, among others.
