In an uncertain world, we reinforce the EU-CELAC alliance to boost cooperation, multilateralism, and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. "A key strategic relationship for the stability and progress of our regions," noted the Spanish representative. The IV Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU) began this Sunday in Santa Marta, Colombia, with the presence of 13 heads of state and representatives from more than 20 countries. The meeting will focus on generating debates and policies for the energy, digital, and environmental sectors, in addition to strengthening multilateralism and cooperation between the two blocs. The host is the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who received the first arrivals at the Centro de Convenciones Santamar: the President of the European Council, António Costa; the President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; and the Prime Minister of Portugal, Luis Montenegro. Also present were the leaders of Spain, Pedro Sánchez; the Netherlands, Dick Schoof; Guyana, Mark Phillips; Saint Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Drew; Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit; Grenada, Dickon Mitchell; Belgium, Maxime Prévôt; Haiti, Smith Augustin; Slovenia, Tanja Fajon; Luxembourg, Xavier Frédéric Hughes; and Cuba, Salvador Valdés Mesa. "I cannot speak on behalf of all of CELAC. That organization has statutes that require everything to be decided by consensus. I think those statutes should be modified, but it is a matter that CELAC must resolve, as that decision-making method reduces its operational capacity and effectiveness," assured Petro at the opening. And he expressed: "It is necessary to make an assessment: the world has changed and always will. In that flow, we must analyze the current situation in depth." "That is why I want the CELAC-European Union summit, it is my wish, to be a beacon of light in the midst of barbarism and be able to tell the world that meeting, that dialogue among many, that a global democracy and that a free humanity is possible now, even as barbarism advances and kills people," highlighted the President of Colombia. For his part, Pedro Sánchez highlighted his commitment to the bloc's countries: "Spain is and will continue to be by the side of Latin America and the Caribbean."
