Costa Urges Deeper EU-Latin America Ties Beyond Trade
The European Council president called for partnership based on shared values and interests at an Ibero-American summit in Madrid.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in International Relations
European Council President António Costa called for stronger relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean that go beyond trade. Speaking at the Ibero-American summit in Madrid, he noted that a free trade agreement already covers 97% of the region's GDP.
Why it matters
The push signals an effort to deepen political and strategic cooperation alongside existing economic ties between the two regions. Shared support for strengthening the United Nations also points to common ground ahead of the next UN Secretary-General election.
A free trade agreement already covers 97% of Latin America and the Caribbean's GDP, according to Costa's remarks in Madrid. The extraction does not detail the specific non-trade measures being proposed.
The players
António Costa
António Costa is the President of the European Council, who has been a prominent Portuguese politician and former prime minister of Portugal.
The details
Costa made the call in a speech at the Ibero-American summit in Madrid, urging ties built on shared values and interests rather than trade alone. He pointed to the planned 2027 EU/CELAC summit in Brussels as an opportunity to formalize that partnership. Europeans, Latin Americans and Caribbeans also share advocacy for strengthening the United Nations.
Timeline
November 5, 2026: Costa calls for stronger EU-Latin America ties in Madrid.
End of 2026: Election of the next UN Secretary-General takes place.
2027: EU/CELAC summit scheduled in Brussels.
Political Context
Costa's call builds on the EU-CELAC summit framework, which has long linked the two regions through dialogue. His emphasis on moving beyond trade marks a shift toward political partnership, with the 2027 Brussels summit as the next test.
For readers following global affairs, the proposed partnership could shape cooperation on trade, diplomacy and multilateral institutions in the years ahead. The extraction does not specify immediate policy changes affecting individuals.
The takeaway
Closer EU-Latin America ties are increasingly framed around shared political values, not just trade volume. Watch the 2027 Brussels summit to see whether that framing turns into concrete commitments.
What happens next
The 2027 EU/CELAC summit in Brussels is scheduled to formalize a partnership based on shared values and interests, and the next UN Secretary-General election takes place at the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more on regional diplomacy, explore our International Relations coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Agence Europe.
