EU–LAC Foundation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Foundation

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Abbreviation	EU–LAC Foundation
Formation	2010 Foundation under German civil law
Type	International Organisation
Legal status	2019 International Organisation under international public law
Headquarters	Hamburg, Germany
Membership	62 members
Official languages	English Spanish
President	Leire Pajín Iraola
Executive Director	Adrián Bonilla
Website	https://eulacfoundation.org/en

The European Union – Latin America and Caribbean Foundation (often called the EU–LAC Foundation) is an international group. It was created in 2010 by leaders from the European Union (EU) and countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Its main goal is to make the partnership between these two big regions stronger.

The Foundation also works to make this partnership more visible. It encourages people and groups from both regions to get involved. The EU–LAC Foundation started its work in 2011 and is based in Hamburg, Germany. It helps leaders talk to each other and works on important topics. These include education, science, economy, climate change, culture, and gender equality. It also focuses on helping young people and reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Foundation has 61 members. These include 33 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. There are also 27 member countries from the European Union. The European Union itself is also a member.

How the EU–LAC Foundation Started

The idea to create a group like the EU–LAC Foundation began in 2008. This was at a big meeting in Lima, Peru. Leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the European Union discussed it.

Two years later, in 2010, the decision was made. This happened at another meeting in Madrid, Spain. The leaders agreed to create the EU–LAC Foundation. They wanted it to help strengthen the partnership between the two regions. It would also help them discuss common plans and actions.

The EU–LAC Foundation officially began its work on November 7, 2011. It was first set up under German law. Its home is in Hamburg, Germany. Later, in 2016, an agreement was signed to make it an international organization. This agreement became official on May 17, 2019.

Who are the Members?

The EU–LAC Foundation has 61 members. This includes 33 countries from Latin America and the Caribbean. It also has 27 countries from the European Union. The European Union itself is also a member.

Since 2010, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) has worked with the EU. CELAC includes all 33 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Here is a full list of the members of the EU–LAC Foundation:

Latin American and Caribbean Members

EU Member States

What the Foundation Does

The EU–LAC Foundation has three main goals:

1. To help strengthen the partnership between CELAC and the EU. This includes getting people and groups involved.
2. To help both regions learn more about each other.
3. To make the partnership and both regions more visible to the world.

To reach these goals, the Foundation works on several important topics:

Higher Education

The Foundation helps create ways for people to talk and share knowledge. This builds a common area for higher education between the EU, Latin America, and the Caribbean. It also helps students and teachers take part in cooperation between the regions.

Science, Technology, and Innovation

In this area, the Foundation focuses on connecting different groups. It brings together governments, non-governmental groups, and universities. They work together on research and new ideas.

Economic and Social Development

The EU–LAC Foundation works on current economic and social issues. It also looks at long-term trends affecting both regions. The goal is to help build stronger, fairer, and more modern economies and societies. It does this by:

• Bringing together public and private groups to improve business ties.
• Creating knowledge and sharing ideas on how to make societies more fair.
• Helping to build digital partnerships between the regions.

Climate Change

Climate change is a very important issue for both the EU and CELAC. The Foundation creates spaces for discussions and ideas. It brings together non-governmental groups to help find solutions to climate challenges.

Culture

Culture is key to bringing countries closer together. The Foundation's cultural activities help people from the EU, Latin America, and the Caribbean understand each other better. They also strengthen cooperation between the regions. This work also helps achieve the global goal of building stronger partnerships for sustainable development.

Multilateralism and Bi-regional Association

The Foundation brings together important partners to discuss global challenges. It looks at how the EU-CELAC partnership can help solve these issues. The Foundation believes that working together (multilateralism) is the best way to deal with shared problems.

Gender Equality

In 2015, leaders from the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean promised to work for women's rights. They also committed to reducing inequality and ending violence against women. The EU–LAC Foundation helps share experiences and knowledge among women's groups. This helps advance discussions on these important topics.

How the Foundation is Organized

The EU–LAC Foundation is run by a Board of Governors, a President, and an Executive Director.

Board of Governors

The Board of Governors makes sure the Foundation is managed well. They ensure it is working towards its goals. The Board has 61 members, one from each member of the Foundation. They meet at least twice a year. The meetings are led by representatives from CELAC and the EU.

President

Every four years, the Board chooses a President. The President's main job is to represent the Foundation. The President's role switches between someone from an EU country and someone from a Latin American or Caribbean country. If the President is from the EU, the Executive Director must be from Latin America or the Caribbean, and vice versa.

• 2011–2015: Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner (Austria)
• 2016–2020: Dr Leonel Fernández (Dominican Republic)
• 2020–2024: Leire Pajín Iraola (Spain)

Executive Director

The Executive Director is the legal representative of the EU–LAC Foundation. This person is also chosen by the Board of Governors every four years. Like the President, if the Executive Director is from the EU, the President must be from Latin America or the Caribbean, and vice versa.

• 2011–2015: Jorge Valdez Carrillo (Peru)
• 2016–2020: Dr Paola Amadei (Italy)
• Since July 2020: Dr Adrián Bonilla (Ecuador)

How the Foundation is Funded

The EU–LAC Foundation gets its money from voluntary contributions. These contributions come from its member countries.

See also

• EU–LAC Summit (European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean Summit)
• Latin America and Caribbean
• Asia–Europe Foundation