Latin America and the Caribbean

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The EESC has engaged with Latin American and Caribbean counterpart organisations since the 1990s. Over the years, several EESC opinions have addressed relations with this region at regional, sub-regional and national levels. Its priorities include strengthening civil society organisations, promoting economic and social development, fostering regional integration and advancing cooperation in the multilateral sphere.

At the bi-regional level, the EESC organizes and contributes to meetings between civil society representatives from Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean, including dialogue forums ahead of EU-CELAC Summits.

At sub-regional and national levels, the EESC has established several permanent structures. In 2009, it created a Civil Society Round Table with the Brazilian Economic and Social Development Council to provide a platform for dialogue and ongoing cooperation between Brazilian and European civil society. The EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table was relaunched in 2025 with a new counterpart, Brazil's Sustainable Economic and Social Development Council (CDESS). Under the EU-Chile Association Agreement, the EESC was mandated to set up a Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) with Chilean civil society to monitor the agreement. The JCC was established in 2016, and its mandate expired in 2025 following the Advanced Framework Agreement and the provisional application of the Interim Trade Agreement, which introduced Domestic Consultative Groups (DCGs). The EU DCG was formed in early 2026.

For Central America and the Andean Community countries, the EESC participates in two Domestic Advisory Groups monitoring the implementation of the EU-Central America Association Agreement and the EU-Colombia/Peru/Ecuador Trade Agreement. It also takes part in the EU-CARIFORUM Consultative Committee overseeing the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement. In addition, the EESC maintains regular dialogue with its institutional counterparts in Mercosur, the Economic and Social Consultative Forum.

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  • Latin America needs a new social contract to stimulate economic recovery, while building a strong alliance with the EU

    A new social contract for Latin America is needed, ensuring political accountability, inclusion, social protection and quality employment, said the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) in its own-initiative opinion on the socio-economic situation in Latin America, following the pandemic. Freely and democratically organised civil societies are the best starting point.

    External relations

  • Dialogue with the Latin America Follow-up Committee: Focus on The Gran Chaco

    Location

    Hybrid
    Brussels
    Belgium

    The afternoon session of the Latin America Follow-up Committee meeting to be held on 24 February 2026 will be dedicated to the Gran Chaco. Organised in collaboration with the multi-actor platform Redes Chaco, the network implementing the EU-supported Impacto Verde initiative, this dialogue will spotlight the challenges and opportunities linking the American Gran Chaco to the EU-Latin America agenda.

  • 9th Meeting of the EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table

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    Location

    Brasília
    Brazil

    Driven by the collaboration between the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and the Brazilian Economic and Social Development Council (CDES), the EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table held eight meetings between 2009 and 2014. Following the re-establishment of Brazil’s civil society advisory body in 2023 – now operating as the Sustainable Economic and Social Development Council of Brazil (CDESS) – and in accordance with the EESC-CDESS Memorandum of Understanding signed on 9 April 2024 in Brasília, as well as the Joint Statement issued by the President of the EESC and the Minister of Institutional Relations of Brazil on 10 April 2024, the EU-Brazil Civil Society Round Table has been officially reactivated.

  • CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee - 8th meeting

    Event type
    Meeting

    Location

    The Bahamas (Marriott Nassau Downtown)
    Nassau
    Bahamas

    The 8th meeting of the CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee took place in Nassau, bringing together civil society representatives from the Caribbean and the European Union. The agenda covered key discussions on the 5-year review of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), its impact on trade, SMEs, and labour standards, as well as the evolving situation in Haiti. Participants engaged in high-level dialogues, expert briefings, and the adoption of a Joint Statement, shaping the future of CARIFORUM-EU cooperation.

  • EU-Andean Countries Conference on informal work, freedom of association and the fight against child labour

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    Location

    Bogotá
    Colombia

    The EESC participates in the important event on labour, organized by the European Commission (DG EMPL). The Conference creates an opportunity to exchange views on how to strengthen compliance with labour rights and promote decent working conditions, with a particular focus on freedom of association, combating informality at work in rural areas and eradicating child labour.

  • CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee - 7th meeting

    Event type
    Joint meeting

    Location

    Rue Belliard 99
    Brussels
    Belgium

    The CARIFORUM-EU Consultative Committee (CC) was established with the task and responsibility of fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration among delegates from civil society organizations, including the academic community, and social and economic stakeholders.

  • 10th EU-Chile Joint Consultative Committee

    Location

    Brussels
    Belgium

    The agenda of the 10th hybrid meeting of the JCC includes the presentation of the ongoing work objectives, as well as the discussion on the EU-Chile Advanced Framework Agreement, in particular the state of play of the ratification process and the role of the civil society under the renewed deal.

  • EU-Central America joint meeting of civil society Advisory Groups and Civil Society Dialogue Forum

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    Event type
    Joint meeting

    Location

    San Salvador
    Belgium

    EU-Central America joint meeting of civil society Advisory Groups and Civil Society Dialogue Forum

  • 22nd meeting of the EU Advisory Group for the EU-Central America Association Agreement

    12 December 2022 - Hybrid Brussels

    Location

    Interactio Hybrid - Brussels
    Belgium

     

     

  • 18th meeting of the EU - DAG Colombia-Peru-Ecuador

    Location

    Interactio Hybrid - Brussels
    Belgium

    18th meeting of the EU - DAG Colombia-Peru-Ecuador

    17 October 2022 - Hybrid Brussels

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