Taken together, the EU, Latin America and the Caribbean represent more than 1 billion people – equivalent to 14% of the world’s population, 21% of global GDP, and one-third of UN membership.
EU-OLADE energy cooperation
On 27 May 2025, the EU and the Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE) signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and OLADE to strengthen cooperation between the 2 blocs on energy matters, also confirming the EU’s permanent observer status in OLADE.
It focuses on a range of energy related activities such as
- encouraging the pro-active participation of European stakeholders in OLADE events and meetings of its governance bodies
- exchanging know-how and best practices in designing proposals for joint programmes, projects and other cooperation activities
- providing advisory assistance for the implementation of joint actions in the field of energy
Both the EU and the Latin American Energy Organisation (OLADE) are committed to implementing the Global Pledge to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030 and to further transitioning away from fossil fuels.
They also intend to advance on methane emissions reduction and mitigation in sectors like agriculture, fossil fuels and transport at regional level in Latin America.
EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda
In July 2023, as part of the summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Commission President von der Leyen presented the EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda (GGIA). Among other shared priorities, a fair green transition is a central pillar of the agenda. She also announced Team Europe’s commitment of over €45 billion to support the reinforced partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean until 2027.
The GGIA includes a list of more than 130 projects to make the fair green and digital transition a reality on both sides of the Atlantic.
In addition, during the EU-CELAC summit, the EU signed bilateral Memorandums of Understanding with Uruguay and Argentina, stepping up cooperation in areas including the clean energy transition and energy security.
EU-LAC cooperation on energy
Latin America and the Caribbean are firmly committed to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and to preserving their rich biodiversity through the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. At the political level, the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean are together driving global initiatives, such as the negotiations for an international treaty to avoid plastic pollution, and holding a bi-regional and several bilateral dialogues on green issues. The EU has called for a ban on certain plastic products to combat pollution.
The EU is providing significant financial and technical assistance to support these efforts, through Global Gateway and different strategies and programmes such as Euroclima+, Amazonia+ and AL INVEST VERDE.
EU-funded projects support the development of green, carbon-neutral hydrogen and value chains for the supply of critical raw materials needed for the energy transition.
Other EU tools and flagship programmes, such as Horizon Europe, Copernicus and Galileo are part of the EU’s work in the region, and contribute significantly to monitoring and adapting to climate change impacts in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Documents
- Press release: EU and Latin American Energy Organisation strengthen energy transition cooperation (27/5/2025)
- Press release: Commission presents Global Gateway Investment Agenda with Latin America and Caribbean (17/7/2023)
- Press release: EU-CELAC Summit: EU and Uruguay boost cooperation on renewable energy, energy efficiency and renewable hydrogen (18/7/2023)
- Press release: EU-CELAC Summit: EU and Argentina step up cooperation on clean energy transition and energy security (17/7/2023)