The Diplomat
The Government and the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) have agreed to organise a meeting in Santiago de Compostela in September 2023 between the 60 Ministers of Economy and Finance of Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, reports Europa Press.
The event will take place within the framework of the meetings of the Eurogroup and the informal Economic and Financial Affairs Council of the European Union (Ecofin) to be held in the Galician capital, on the occasion of the Spanish presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will take place in the second half of 2023.
The summit will also coincide with the twentieth anniversary of Spain’s collaboration with the Development Bank of Latin America.
The First Vice-President of the Government and Minister for Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño, who will chair the summit of ministers, yesterday highlighted Spain’s interest in “intensely” promoting relations with Latin America since it joined the European Union.
“The shared interests between the two continents will be evident at this meeting, with which we hope to attract European investment in strategic areas such as the ecological transition, digital transformation, education and health. Latin America is an essential partner and collaboration between the two sides of the Atlantic is more important than ever”, added the Minister of Economy.
For his part, the executive president of the CAF, Sergio Díaz-Granados, referred to the meeting as an “unparalleled” opportunity to strengthen economic, commercial and political ties between the EU bloc and the Latin American region.
“Both continents are facing major global challenges such as the green transition, digital transformation and economic recovery, and this joint work will help us to find innovative solutions, new financing mechanisms and more opportunities for regional integration,” he said.
At the request of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union, the identification of projects throughout Latin America and the Caribbean in which European institutions can participate in transnational investment projects will be promoted.
“We are going to involve the European Commission, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and all the international organisations that are interested in working to strengthen economic and financial ties across the Atlantic,” Calviño explained.
In turn, the President of CAF indicated that he wants to hold a prior meeting with the Latin American ministers in order to bring a “common position” to this “start of the journey” that is taking place in Santiago de Compostela and which he hopes will last “many years”.
