Political relations between the EU and Costa Rica have been shaped by the San José Dialogue, which was launched at an EU-Central America Ministerial Meeting in Costa Rica in 1984. The EU supported Costa Rica’s decisive action to restore peace to the region by means of a negotiated solution to the armed conflicts.

Costa Rica is a signatory to the 1993 EU-Central America Framework Cooperation Agreement and to the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement signed in 2003 [105 KB] . It is also participating in the EU-Central America negotiations with a view to an Association Agreement, including a free trade area.

It accounts for 60% of exports from Central America to the European Union market and is in second place as a destination of EU investment, behind Panama.

Costa Rica is a middle-income country and, due to its relatively high level of development, is not considered a priority country for cooperation by international donors. It has nevertheless been allocated €34 million from the EU budget for the years 2007-2013 which should contribute to reducing poverty and social inequalities and supporting regional integration in Central America (Country Strategy Paper [560 KB] ).

• Mid-Term Review of the Country Strategy Paper 2007-2013 for Costa Rica [25 KB] and the National Indicative Programme 2007-2013 for Costa Rica [52 KB]