In the 2021-2027 period, the EU will support the region’s long-term recovery following the COVID-19 health emergency. It will seek to deepen partnerships with LAC countries and regional groups to build back better, by strengthening cooperation on critical areas such as the transition to a greener development model, accelerating digital transformation, support sustainable and inclusive economic recovery, strengthening democratic governance, human rights and peace and security, while also addressing the region’s deep seated inequality and advancing social cohesion and human development.

Respect for human rights, the rule of law, democracy and other principles of good governance form the backbone of the EU’s cooperation with LAC. Advancing the goals of the EU’s Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024, particular attention to tackling inequalities and furthering women and girls’ empowerment as well as promoting the rights of vulnerable groups, including children, refugees, displaced people and migrants, as well as indigenous people. Engagement with civil society organisations, including women and youth organisations, is a central dimension. 

The EU’s cooperation with LAC, by and large a middle-income region, requires innovative approaches based on the notion of partnership, which go beyond the traditional donor-recipient approach. The combination of political and policy dialogue, regional and country actions addressing shared challenges, triangular cooperation and the use of credits and blending are important tools to address the varied needs through the region. The EU sustains close cooperation with regional organisations and groups (CELAC, OAS, Pacific Alliance, Mercosur, SICA/SIECA, CARIFORUM/ CARICOM) and multilateral partners to make headway on regional and global challenges. 

The novel Team Europe approach - bringing together EU institutions and services, Member States, the European Investment Bank, European financial institutions, as well civil society and private sector - aims to deliver on the EU’s external geostrategic priorities in a visible, transformative and impactful way. This approach will be rolled out both at country and at regional levels, through so-called Team Europe Initiatives targeting key challenges such as the deforestation in the Amazon, organised crime and drugs-trafficking, socio-economic inequality and the digital transformation.