• The celebration of the IV Summit in Santa Marta, Colombia, is a decisive opportunity to strengthen a strategic partnership that is increasingly necessary to guarantee the stability and development of both regions in the current geopolitical context
• The organisation warns of two strategic risks in the current approach: an unbalanced distribution of investment among priorities and the limited role of civil society in defining the bi-regional cooperation agenda
• The organisation urges the strengthening of the role of education and professional training for youth in the deployment of investments in the digital, transport and energy sectors in the region

The organisation insists that the strategic cooperation agenda between the EU and the Latin American region should focus its efforts on ensuring a triple green, digital, and social transition, placing youth and civil society at the core of the agenda.

The strategic partnership between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean, which has been reactivated in recent years, is gaining increasing relevance in a geopolitical context marked by the growing assertiveness of powers such as the United States, Russia, and China. While the European Union faces significant challenges in the commercial and economic arena, as highlighted by its tariff trade policy towards the region, Latin America is also suffering the consequences of reduced US involvement, with the closure of USAID operations and the deployment of more restrictive migratory policies.

Boosting the bi-regional relationship for a more effective EU-LAC

Since 2023, the EU-LAC relationship has gained momentum following a period of relative stagnation. The Commission’s new EU-LAC Agenda, the III EU-CELAC Summit in Brussels in July 2023, and particularly the Global Gateway Investment Agenda (which anticipates mobilising €45 billion by 2027), are clear examples of the new phase the relationship between the regions has entered, with Spain playing a key driving role.

Given this increasingly shared scenario of vulnerability, strengthening the partnership between the EU and Latin America has renewed importance as a key instrument to guarantee economic security, drive a sustainable green and digital transition, and reinforce the commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based global order in these regions.

In this context, Ayuda en Acción highlights the need to address potential risks that could compromise the effectiveness of the bi-regional partnership in contributing to economic security and the triple transition in the EU and Latin America.

The organisation points, in particular, to existing operational limitations—such as the need for greater coordination between the European Commission, Member States, and development agencies, or the fragmentation of initiatives across different financial instruments—as well as two proposed areas for improvement that are closely related and require urgent attention:

• The as-yet untapped potential for incorporating civil society and local communities into defining the EU-LAC agenda.
• The prioritisation of education and vocational training so that investments in the green, transport and digital transitions can generate a real and sustainable impact in the region. The organisation urges the strengthening of the role of education and professional training for youth in the deployment of investments in the digital and energy sectors in the region.

Ayuda en Acción warns of two strategic risks in the current approach: an unbalanced distribution of investment among priorities and the limited role of civil society in defining the bi-regional cooperation agenda. The celebration of the IV Summit in Santa Marta, Colombia, is a decisive opportunity to strengthen a strategic partnership that is increasingly necessary to guarantee the stability and development of both regions in the current geopolitical context.

“The investment imbalance is clear: while nearly half of the projects are concentrated in the climate and energy sector, fundamental sectors such as health, and above all, education and research, receive less than 10%. This funding is insufficient for the region’s real needs. We are talking about an average investment in education of 4.2% of GDP between 2001 and 2023—according to UNESCO data—which must increase, as indicated by bodies such as the Organisation of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI),” states Alberto Casado, Director of Institutional Relations at Ayuda en Acción.

Latin America and the Caribbean are experiencing a situation of inequality, institutional fragility, and low growth. According to the latest activity report from the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAC), the region faces a significant learning crisis in education, evidenced by low PISA test results and a stagnation of educational achievements compared to the beginning of the 2000s. The data is compelling: 31% of people aged 15 to 19 live in poverty, and one in four young people aged 18 to 24 are neither studying nor working. By 2030, 70% of youth employment will be concentrated in the services sector. “Only by placing young people, as a central part of civil society, at the heart of the agenda on education, training, and employment will it be possible to build a new social contract capable of generating stability, cohesion, and equitable development in the region, and an effective and resilient partnership with the EU,” underscores Casado.

Partnership priorities: focus on youth and citizen participation

For Ayuda en Acción, ensuring that the green and digital transitions generate real opportunities for Latin American youth involves:

• Promoting equitable access to digital technologies.
• Strengthening digital skills.
• Orienting youth trajectories toward preparedness and response to new challenges.
• Integrating artificial intelligence into educational governance in a critical and responsible manner.
• Developing inclusive pilot projects in contexts with lower technological access.

Furthermore, the success of the EU-LAC partnership will not be measured solely by the volume of investment mobilised, but by its actual capacity to transform people’s lives. To achieve this, Ayuda en Acción proposes:

• Establishing multi-stakeholder participation mechanisms.
• Conducting local needs assessments.
• Ensuring transparency and accountability with clear eligibility and impact criteria.
• Securing active youth participation in the design, implementation, and evaluation of projects.

The Summit in Santa Marta represents a crucial opportunity to consolidate a fairer, more inclusive, and effective partnership that responds to the challenges both regions face in an increasingly complex geopolitical context, as well as the need to defend multilateralism and the EU-LAC relationship. Ayuda en Acción urges the EU-CELAC Summit to place youth education at the centre of the strategic relationship between both regions.

For more information and interviews: ayudaenaccion@llyc.global | +34 91 563 77 22

Sobre Ayuda en Acción 

We are an organisation that works internationally to generate opportunities for growth and development alongside the people who need it most. We support them from childhood and youth, defining common goals, and championing their talents and abilities. We facilitate their access to education and the transition to employment and entrepreneurship so that they can lead their own paths and generate sustainable and lasting development in their communities.