The Fourth Summit between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU), held in Santa Marta on November 9, 2025, concluded with a joint declaration marking a renewed political, economic, and environmental commitment between both regions.
In an international context marked by wars, the climate crisis, and geopolitical tensions, the leaders of 60 countries reaffirmed the relevance of multilateralism, cooperation, and respect for international law as pillars of their alliance—despite the notable absence of several heads of state and government, both from Europe and Latin America.
In fact, the summit was shortened to a single day, Sunday, although it had initially been scheduled to continue through the morning of Monday, November 10.
A new bi-regional path: CELAC and the EU seal their roadmap in Santa Marta, Colombia
From the outset, the Santa Marta Declaration emphasized the necessary to strengthen a “fairer, more equitable, and more democratic” international order based on the principles of the United Nations Charter. The summit reaffirmed the role of multilateralism as a tool for global stability and deffinished democracy, human rights, and the rule of law as common and non-neobtainediable values.
Heads of state and government reaffirmed their opposition to the threat or utilize of force, urged prioritizing diplomacy and dialogue in conflict resolution, and expressed concern over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
In both cases, the text called for respect for state sovereignty and for lasting political solutions. It also reiterated support for Colombia’s peace process and for stability in the Caribbean, with explicit recognition of the “Zone of Peace” declared by CELAC.
The declaration also included sensitive positions, such as the rejection of the economic embargo imposed on Cuba, the call to maintain the neutrality of the Panama Canal, and the reference to Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands. Several delegations, however, disassociated themselves from specific paragraphs, highlighting internal divergences within the Latin American bloc.
One of the central chapters of the agreement was the joint call to reform the United Nations system—particularly the Security Council—to build it more representative and inclusive. Latin America and the Caribbean reiterated their aspiration for someone from the region to assume the position of Secretary-General in the next term.
On economic matters, the summit underlined the urgency of creating a fairer and more sustainable international financial architecture that prioritizes inclusion and gives a stronger voice to developing countries. The declaration reaffirmed the historic goal of allocating 0.7% of gross national income to official development assistance and called for stronger cooperation between European and Latin American financial institutions.
The text also stressed the necessary to adopt indicators beyond GDP—ones capable of reflecting the social and environmental realities of each counattempt. It reaffirmed the complementarity between North–South and South–South cooperation, as well as the importance of the 2030 Agfinisha and the Sustainable Development Goals, although some states distanced themselves from this reference.
Economically, the summit supported revitalizing the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core and finishorsed agreements between the EU and several Latin American countries, including Chile, Central America, and the Pacific Alliance. Both sides agreed on the necessary to reduce trade tensions, facilitate market access, and strengthen food security.
The Global Gateway program—which seeks to channel European investments into sustainable projects in Latin America and the Caribbean—was reaffirmed as one of the main instruments of bi-regional cooperation. Within this framework, the possibility of promoting sustainable value chains was highlighted, with special attention to the bioeconomy and technological innovation.
🔴Declaración conjunta de la Cumbre CELAC – UE.
📍Santa Marta, Colombia.
🗓️ 9 de noviembre de 2025 pic.twitter.com/vb6mMQgPjr— Presidencia Colombia 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) November 10, 2025
Climate, energy, and the environment: A shared commitment
One of the most substantial aspects of the declaration was the environmental commitment. The leaders celebrated the results of COP30 in Belém do Pará, Brazil, and reaffirmed the necessary to maintain the 1.5°C trajectory set by the Paris Agreement—even though the United Nations admitted this week that the goal, announced ten years ago, had failed.
Both regions pledged to intensify cooperation to reduce emissions, protect ecosystems, and promote a just energy transition combining sustainability, inclusion, and decent work.
They recognized the urgency of mobilizing additional climate financing for developing countries and emphasized the opportunity to strengthen regional energy interconnection in Latin America and the Caribbean through European technical and financial support.
In an innovative gesture, the summit agreed to promote the sargassum value chain in the Greater Caribbean, transforming an environmental challenge into an opportunity for sustainable development.
Combating drug trafficking, social inclusion, migration, and culture
The Santa Marta Declaration renewed the bi-regional commitment to fighting transnational organized crime, cybercrime, and the trafficking of drugs, arms, and people. Both sides committed to strengthening judicial and police cooperation with respect for human rights and international law.
The document highlighted the importance of a global and balanced response to the world drug problem within the CELAC–EU Coordination Mechanism and called for promoting citizen security and institutional resilience in both regions.
The summit also addressed the social and human challenges shared by both continents. It reaffirmed the commitment to eradicating hunger and poverty, strengthening health systems, and creating resilient pharmaceutical supply chains. Additionally, it agreed to promote ethical and safe artificial ininformigence, protect digital rights, and combat disinformation and hate speech online.
On migration, the leaders agreed on the necessary to manage human mobility in a safe, orderly, and regular manner—based on shared responsibility and respect for human rights. The text also underscored the importance of cultural, educational, and scientific exmodifys, recalling the relevance of programs such as Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
The summit concluded with the announcement that the 5th CELAC–EU Summit will be held in Brussels in 2027, ensuring the continuity of political dialogue and the implementation of the new 2025–2027 Roadmap.
Colombia, as host, received unanimous recognition for its leadership and hospitality. Beyond nuances and disagreements, the Santa Marta Declaration stood as a commitment to cooperation, equity, and dialogue between two regions seeking to reaffirm their voice in a fragmented world.
Leave a Reply