The EU-LAC Foundation held two strategic meetings in Brussels on 18 and 19 May with representatives from Latin American and Caribbean countries and from the Member States of the European Union, with the aim of strengthening bi-regional political dialogue and contributing to the follow-up of the EU–CELAC process in an international context marked by significant geopolitical challenges.
The meetings were led by the President of the EU-LAC Foundation, José Antonio Arrospide del Busto, and the Executive Director, Alberto Brunori, who exchanged perspectives on the organisation’s role in strengthening the bi-regional partnership and on cooperation priorities between both regions.
Strengthening the political articulation of the EU–CELAC partnership
The first meeting took place with the Group of Ambassadors of Latin America and the Caribbean accredited in Brussels. The discussion highlighted the evolution and strengthening of the EU-LAC Foundation’s role in the framework of the CELAC Summit held in Santa Marta in 2025, particularly in its political and technical support to the bi-regional process, the promotion of dialogue among key stakeholders, and the generation of knowledge on shared priorities.
In this context, the President and the Executive Director underlined that the organisation’s added value goes beyond the implementation of concrete projects, as it plays a key role as a space for convening, facilitating consensus, and fostering dialogue between both regions. They also stressed the importance of maintaining a shared strategic vision to enable coordinated responses to increasingly complex global challenges.
The discussions further highlighted the need to continue strengthening ties with diplomatic representations from Latin America and the Caribbean in order to consolidate the organisation’s bi-regional work and ensure smooth communication on political priorities and ongoing cooperation processes.
The EU-LAC Foundation also participated in a meeting with delegations from the Member States of the European Union within the framework of the Working Party on Latin America and the Caribbean (COLAC) of the Council of the European Union. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on the future of EU–CELAC cooperation and to present the organisation’s institutional and programme developments.
During his intervention, Alberto Brunori presented the work programme for 2026 and highlighted the progress achieved in strategic planning, implementation of activities, and the institutional consolidation of the EU-LAC Foundation. He also outlined key lines of work aimed at strengthening bi-regional cooperation in priority areas for both regions.
For his part, José Antonio Arrospide del Busto emphasised the unique nature of the EU-LAC Foundation as the only bi-regional intergovernmental platform specifically dedicated to fostering political dialogue, building mutual trust, and providing technical and institutional support to the EU–CELAC process. In this regard, he stressed the importance of further strengthening the organisation in order to effectively respond to Member States’ expectations and accompany progress in the strategic partnership between the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean.
The meetings held in Brussels highlighted the importance of maintaining permanent spaces for exchange that make it possible to transform current challenges into opportunities to deepen the strategic partnership between both regions and advance towards shared objectives.