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REPORT (2025/2083(INI))

On EU political strategy on Latin America

A-10-2025-0171

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Davor Ivo Stier

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

The report sets out Parliament's strategy for EU relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, covering political, economic, development, security, and human rights cooperation. It calls for stronger diplomatic engagement, support for democracy and human rights, condemnation of authoritarian regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, and increased EU investment via Global Gateway. It welcomes trade agreements with Chile, Mexico, Central America, and Mercosur, and urges ratification and implementation. It stresses cooperation on security, drug trafficking, climate change, indigenous rights, gender equality, and civil society participation, and makes recommendations for the November 2025 EU-CELAC summit.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes a comprehensive strategy for EU-LAC relations, calling for stronger political, economic, and security cooperation, and makes recommendations for the upcoming EU-CELAC summit.

Key points

  1. Calls for stepped-up diplomatic efforts to promote convergence with LAC on foreign policy, including a firmer stance on Russia's war against Ukraine and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
  2. Condemns human rights abuses and democratic backsliding in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela; urges release of political prisoners and sanctions against responsible regimes.
  3. Expresses concern over erosion of democratic principles in El Salvador, including lack of judicial independence and excessive use of force.
  4. Calls for countering disinformation and hybrid threats from Russia, China, and Iran in the region.
  5. Welcomes the EU-Mercosur agreement as a geopolitical game changer and calls for its adoption and implementation.
  6. Calls for increased EU investment in LAC through Global Gateway, ensuring alignment with SDGs and local priorities, and for full civil society participation.
  7. Urges strengthening cooperation on security and drug trafficking, including with CLASI and AMERIPOL, and addressing root causes of organised crime.
  8. Calls for enhanced cooperation on human rights, including protection of defenders, journalists, and indigenous peoples, and use of sanctions against violators.
  9. Supports parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people ties, including Eurolat and youth exchanges.
  10. Expects the November 2025 EU-CELAC summit to adopt a new roadmap, strengthen multilateralism, and include civil society in a permanent mechanism.
  11. Calls for the summit to condemn Russia's war, support Ukraine, and reaffirm commitments to peace, democracy, and sustainable development.

Who is affected

  • Authoritarian regimes in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua face condemnation and potential sanctions.
  • Civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and journalists in LAC receive increased EU support.
  • Indigenous peoples and Afro-descendants in LAC are targeted for strengthened rights and cooperation.
  • LAC countries benefit from increased EU investment and trade agreements, but must meet human rights and environmental standards.
  • Migrants and refugees from Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela are to be protected and integrated.

Figures and deadlines

  • Bilateral trade in goods and services amounts to EUR 395 billion, a 54 % increase since 2013.
  • EU direct investment in Latin America totalled over EUR 741 billion by 2022.
  • 58 % of rural inhabitants in Latin America live below the poverty line, compared to 26 % in urban areas.
  • In 2023, 41 million people in Latin America suffered from hunger and 187.6 million experienced moderate to severe food insecurity.
  • China has granted loans totalling more than USD 120 billion to the LAC region since 2005.
  • The EU-Mercosur agreement would cover more than 700 million citizens.
  • The annual financing gap for SDG-aligned infrastructure and climate projects in LAC is USD 99 billion.
  • MSMEs account for 90 % of businesses, 60-70 % of employment and 50 % of GDP worldwide.

Legal basis: Title V of the Treaty on European Union, Articles 3 and 21 TEU, and Article 208 TFEU.