Agreement establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Agreement establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2019/593 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Agreement establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a Decision on the approval, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement establishing the EU-LAC International Foundation.

As a reminder, the European Union – Latin America and Caribbean Foundation (EU-LAC Foundation) was established in 2010 by the Heads of State or Government of the European Union (EU) and of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). The countries of the EU and of CELAC, as well as the EU itself, are its members.

The Foundation is a tool of the EU-CELAC partnership and its activities feed into intergovernmental dialogue in line with the bi-regional action plan.

The Foundation is an instrument of the EU-CELAC partnership whose mission is:

- to contribute to the strengthening of the CELAC-EU bi-regional partnership process involving the participation and contribution of civil society and other social actors;

- to encourage further mutual knowledge and understanding between the two regions;

- to strengthen the mutual visibility of each region, as well as the bi-regional partnership itself.

The EU-LAC Foundation aims in particular to:

- promote and coordinate result-oriented activities in support of bi-regional relations, focusing on the implementation of priorities identified at EU-LAC summits;

- encourage debate on common strategies for delivering on those priorities by stimulating research and studies;

- foster fruitful exchange and new networking opportunities among civil society and other stakeholders involved with, or potentially interested in, the bi-regional relationship.

The activities of the EU-LAC Foundation are based on the priorities and themes discussed by the Heads of State or Government at the Summits, and focus on the needs identified in the context of developing the bi-regional relationship. They shall involve, as far as possible, civil society and other social actors, such as academic institutions, and shall take into account their contribution in a non-binding manner. They give visibility to the partnership, in particular by targeting actions with a multiplier effect.

The EU-LAC Foundation is composed of the Board of Governors of the President and the Executive Director.

The Agreement shall establish the EU-LAC Foundation as an international organisation with legal personality under public international law. When acting within the framework of the EU-LAC Foundation, the Union and its Member States shall coordinate their positions in accordance with the Treaties and the principle of loyal cooperation.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 8.4.2019.