On November 9, the summit between the European Union and CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) will begin, with the participation of 12 heads of state, 6 vice presidents, and 23 foreign ministers.
The meeting is being held in Santa Marta, and the invited countries are expected to discuss issues such as energy transition, international cooperation, and regional trade policies.
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One of the first heads of state to arrive was the President of Spain, Pedro Sánchez. Other European leaders already in the country include the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Dich Schoof; the Prime Minister of Portugal, Luis Montenegro; the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo; and the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic.
Luís Montenegro, Prime Minister of Portugal, arrived at 8:48 a.m., one of the most senior figures at the event.
From the region, the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Drew, has confirmed his attendance, as has the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The Prime Minister of Belize, John Briceno, the President of Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi Martínez, the Prime Minister of Guyana, Mark Phillips, and the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, have also confirmed their attendance.
The notable absentees from the Americas and the Caribbean were Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico and Gabriel Boric of Chile. Both declined the invitation due to internal circumstances in their respective countries.
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Spanish president of the Government Pedro Sánchez arrives at the CELAC-EU Summit in Colombia. Foto:@CancilleriaCol
The Prime Minister of Portugal, Luís Montenegro. Foto:Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Some of the high-level names in Santa Marta include the President of the European Council, António Costa; Minister for European Affairs Jessica Rosencrantz; High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas; Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for a Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition Teresa Riberas; and European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration Magnus Bruner.
Ursula von Der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reportedly canceled their participation due to low attendance by leaders.
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The vice presidents of Belgium, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Cuba, and Haiti were also present in Santa Marta. In addition, there were 17 heads of delegation, 23 foreign ministers, and representatives from 21 international organizations.
Similarly, the arrival of Austria’s Minister for European and International Affairs, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, and Counselor President Smith Augustin, member of Haiti’s Presidential Transition Council, was also recorded.
The executive president of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), Sergio Díaz-Granados, will attend the private sector meeting and also made statements upon his arrival. He spoke about investment in the Santa Marta airport, educational institutions, and a new mental health program.
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A few minutes before 9:30 a.m., one of the summit’s most important guests arrived: the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez.
Pedro Sánchez enters the summit alongside Rosa Villavicencio. Foto:FOREIGN MINISTRY
Among the last guests to arrive were Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, and António Costa, President of the European Council. The latter made statements about the cooperation programs agreed upon two years ago in Brussels, saying that this summit was an opportunity to give new impetus to those agreements by drawing up a new roadmap and a joint declaration.
A few minutes before 10 a.m., a delegation from Colombia arrived with Interior Minister Armando Benedetti.
Five minutes later, at 10:02 a.m., Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrived, another of the few heads of state participating in the summit and one of the most eagerly awaited figures. His country is on the verge of hosting another major international event, COP30, which will be held in Belém do Pará from November 10 to 21.
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Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva arrives at the CELAC-EU summit. Foto:Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ten minutes later, Colombian President Gustavo Petro arrived, accompanied by his youngest daughter Antonella, and spoke to the media about the importance of the summit in the context of “barbarism” in the world, calling on CELAC and European Union countries to be a beacon of democracy. He also called for compliance with international treaties, demanding that “they must be respected above any kind of authoritarianism, despotism, or imperialism.”
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