The Vice President, who is participating in the IV Summit of Heads of State and Government between the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU), taking place at Santamar Convention Center, advocated for respectful dialogue between equals.

Furthermore, he deemed the progress achieved in the bi-regional partnership since the last Brussels Summit insufficient, calling for a deepening of ties based on trust and respect for sovereign equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and the right of each country to decide its own political and socioeconomic system.

“A more supportive and collaborative approach between European Union and CELAC countries will allow us to translate political will into tangible commitments and better address the challenges.”

“Priority areas such as climate change; food security; development financing; technology transfer; renewable energy; digital transformation; scientific research and innovation; and trade and investment require greater cooperation,” he stated.

He also highlighted the attitude of the majority of countries present at the meeting, which, despite the enormous pressure they faced, forcefully demanded at the United Nations an end to the blockade imposed by the United States against the Caribbean nation for more than 60 years and rejected its extraterritorial impact.

“We hope that this bi-regional Summit will contribute to strengthening a more robust CELAC-European Union relationship, oriented towards inclusive development and cooperation, with greater commitment and capacity for dialogue, based on reciprocity and without interference, allowing us to achieve objectives and build spaces for mutual benefit,” the Vice President concluded.

jdt/rgh/ifs