COMUNICACIÓN

“In these turbulent times we are living in, the future is at stake; we must, therefore, strengthen the strategic alliance between Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean”. This was stated by Pablo Hurtado, director-general of External Action of the Regional Government of Extremadura, during the closing ceremony of the event “EU-CELAC Relations: Creating Certainty in the Face of Common Global Challenges”, held on 21st and 22nd November at the Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe. The event was organised by the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation. (22/11/2024)

During his speech, the director-general highlighted that Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean are experiencing significant changes, which makes reaching agreements and building consensus increasingly challenging. He stressed that, “we, therefore, need to promote multilateralism, dialogue, and improve international cooperation”. In this regard, the head for External Action referred to the natural alliance between Europe and Latin America, citing “our historical, cultural, and emotional ties.”

The event addressed topics such as commerce, digital transformation, the green transition, climate change, sustainable development, security, governance, and geopolitics —key subjects of the EU-CELAC Summits, which concern the nearly one billion people living in the two regions. These issues, according to Hurtado, are global and shared, “as should be the solutions to renew relations that benefit both regions, enabling them to play a more prominent role in a complex and volatile international context”, he stated.

Finally, the director-general of External Action recalled that Extremadura has its European identity and American vocation enshrined in its Statute of Autonomy. Through the work of the European and Ibero-American Academy of Yuste Foundation, “the region seeks to continue building bridges between both sides of the Atlantic”.

During the meeting, the Vice-president of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EUROLAT), Elena Nevado, also took part, reaffirming her commitment to “continue promoting the agreements of the 2023 EU-CELAC Summit to achieve a closer, stronger, and renewed partnership”.

The closing ceremony also included remarks by Monika Krzepkowska, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Poland in Spain. Poland will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union during the first half of 2025. In her address, she reaffirmed her country’s commitment to supporting all activities aimed at fostering bi-regional dialogue.

In turn, Carmen Fernández Torres, Ambassadress-at-Large for Summits and the Ibero-American Space at the Secretariat of State for Ibero-America and the Caribbean and Spanish Worldwide of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, highlighted that the event underscored the obligation and mandate to understand each other, to engage in dialogue, and to advance a common agenda. “To this end, we are certain of our work, our commitment, and the hope that through this coordination, we can seek joint solutions to issues that affect us symmetrically across all the countries that make up these two regions”.

Finally, Santiago Mejía Idárraga, minister counsellor in charge of Political Affairs at the Embassy of Colombia in Spain, announced that Colombia, which will assume the presidency of CELAC in 2025, intends to ensure that the Bogotá Summit builds on the achievements already made while focusing on the uncertainties arising from current geopolitical changes. Thus, he has announced that the flagship subjects of its presidency will be bi-regional relations, drawing on the experience in his country’s peace process, with the second priority theme being the energy transition and the green transition.