EU–CELAC summit to highlight multilateral cooperation and economic relations

The summit between the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, CELAC (Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños) is taking place in Santa Marta, Columbia, on 9–10 November. Colombia is currently holding the presidency of CELAC. 

Finland regards the EU–CELAC summit and the deepening of long-term relations with the Latin American and Caribbean countries as essential. Many countries in the region are like-minded with Finland and the EU on multilateral questions, such as climate issues and support for Ukraine. The region also has significant commercial potential.
 
At the summit, the EU and CELAC leaders are expected to adopt a joint declaration and two regional declarations, one on cooperation in the fight against organised crime and the other on the care economy.
 
Finland will be represented at the summit by the Foreign Ministry’s Under-Secretary of State Jarno Syrjälä, who will also deliver Finland’s address. Bilateral discussions with representatives of the CELAC countries will also take place in connection with the summit.

The previous EU–CELAC summit was held in Brussels in 2023.