At an inflection point in relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean following the third EU-CELAC Summit of July 17-18, 2023, and ahead of the UN “Summit of the Future”, a unique opportunity to improve the multilateral system, the European Union and the Republic of Costa Rica successfully held their VII bilateral consultations in Brussels today, 11 March 2024. This year also marks 40 years of steady and fruitful bilateral relations between the EU and Costa Rica.

The two sides discussed bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest, reflecting the solid relationship between the EU and Costa Rica as like-minded partners who share common values and interests.

During the discussions, both delegations reviewed the broader agenda of the EU-Costa Rica partnership. They took stock of their cooperation and the “Global Gateway” Investment Agenda, particularly in the areas of sustainable transportation, secure connectivity and health resilience.

The parties also analysed the Central American integration process, and looked forward to the prompt implementation of the political and cooperation chapters of the EU-Central America Association Agreement. They exchanged views on the status of implementation of the trade pillar of the agreement.

They two sides also focused on shared concerns regarding regional integration, strengthening democracy in the region, multilateralism, migration and security.

The two sides recognise the increase in violence and insecurity derived in particular from transnational organized crime. They agree on the need to work together to address these challenges, exchanging experiences, good practices, and exploring additional possibilities for cooperation.

Both delegations confirmed their shared visions on common challenges such as the urgency of continuing to work on climate change, the preservation of biodiversity, and ocean governance, and on the High Level Event on Ocean Action that will take place in Costa Rica in June 2024, ahead of the Third United Nations Ocean Conference organised by Costa Rica and France in Nice in June 2025.

Costa Rica and the European Union reiterated their strong condemnation of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and their firm commitment to a just and lasting peace, to international security, and to the international order based on multilateralism, which they stand ready to defend in the different United Nations forums.

The parties expressed their gravest concern for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, and supported efforts to agree the release of hostages and a temporary ceasefire, to ensure a sustained end to hostilities. They underlined the importance of reviving a political process to the-two state solution leading to a just and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine.

The two sides also expressed concern about the recent upsurge in gang-led violence in Haiti. They called on Haitian political forces to step up their efforts to reach a viable and sustainable political solution, and expressed appreciation for CARICOM’s efforts to facilitate this process. They underlined the importance of deploying the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission mandated by the UN Security Council.

The meeting was the seventh round of bilateral Consultations, held under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the EU and Costa Rica in 2006.

 The consultations were chaired by the Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica, Ambassador Alejandro Solano Ortíz, and by the Executive Director for the Americas of the External Action of the European Union, Mr Brian Glynn. The Delegations also comprised senior officials from Costa Rica, from different services of the European Commission and from EU Member States, attending as observers.

The next bilateral consultations will take place in Costa Rica in 2025.