Agreement establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation

Background and further information:

The European Union (EU) and the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries have enjoyed special relations since a strategic partnership was established at the first bi-regional summit of their heads of state and government in Rio de Janeiro in 1999. Since then, the two regions have worked together to promote shared interests and values.

A succession of summits has ensured a steady intensification of political dialogue and progress on jointly tackling a wide range of issues, including climate change, migration, the fight against illicit drugs, the promotion of human rights and gender equality, education and cultural issues, and in the fields of science and technology.

At the fifth EU-LAC summit (Lima, 2008) leaders of both regions decided to consider the creation of a bi-regional foundation to foster debate on common strategies and action to strengthen the partnership and enhance its visibility. At the following summit in Madrid, 2010 the heads of state and government decided that an EU-LAC Foundation should be established, with the following objectives:

• to contribute to the strengthening of the EU-LAC partnership process through the participation and inputs of civil society and other social actors;
• to encourage further acquaintance and understanding between the regions; and
• to enhance mutual visibility between the regions and the visibility of the partnership itself.

In 2012 the Council of the European Union authorised the European Commission to open negotiations for an international agreement on the creation of the EU-LAC Foundation as an international organisation, with the EU, its Member States and the LAC countries as members.

In July 2016 the Commission and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented joint proposals for Council Decisions on the signing and conclusion of the agreement. The signing was approved on 10 October by Council Decision (EU) 2016/1873 and the agreement was opened for signature by the parties on 25 October. The conclusion of the agreement was approved on 8 April 2019 by Council Decision (EU) 2019/593.

EUR-Lex: Official Journal, L288, 22/10/2016: Decision (EU) 2016/1873 on the signing of the Agreement establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2016.288.01.0001.01.ENG

EUR-Lex: Official Journal, L103, 12/04/2019: Decision (EU) 2019/593 on the conclusion of the Agreement establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=uriserv:OJ.L_.2019.103.01.0001.01.ENG

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