Kaja Kallas Unveils Massive EU-Latin America Partnership: Supercomputers, Green Investments & More!

APT

EU Chief Kaja Kallas highlighted major initiatives at the EU–CELAC 2025 Summit in Colombia, unveiling a new EU-LAC supercomputing network and expanding the Global Gateway investment program.  Her speech emphasized strengthening digital infrastructure and shared technology across Europe and Latin America, boosting clean energy projects and sustainable development, and enhancing maritime, cybersecurity, and organized crime cooperation.  The summit brings together leaders from Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean to deepen trade, investment, and security partnerships.  #EUCELAC2025 #KajaKallas #Supercomputing #GlobalGateway #EUInvestments #CleanEnergy #DigitalPartnership #LatinAmerica #TradeAndInvestment #ClimateAction #MaritimeSecurity #CyberSecurity

Transcript

00:00Calla Callas.

00:03Dear President Petro, thank you for hosting us.

00:07Dear President Costa, dear heads of state and government,

00:11dear ministers, good colleagues.

00:14Our regions are natural partners.

00:16We speak each other's languages.

00:18We cheer on each other's football teams.

00:22We are home to cities of murals and music.

00:25But most importantly, we share the set of common values.

00:30A belief in democracy, commitment to the rules-based international order

00:36and respect of the international law.

00:40Two years ago, our historic summit marked the turning point of our two regions.

00:47We announced an ambitious investment agenda,

00:50joined forces in clean growth and commitment to ongoing dialogue.

00:55During this time, our ties have grown stronger, but the world has also changed.

01:01It has grown harsher, more competitive and more volatile.

01:08And we see that security and prosperity require diversification.

01:14We all need trusted, reliable partners.

01:17With this summit, we deepen our partnership and show that we are not just natural partners,

01:24but we are partners of choice.

01:27I want to focus on three shared priorities.

01:30First, trade and investment.

01:33Our two regions are connected by a dense network of trade agreements.

01:37In 2023, 410 billion euros of goods and services flowed between our two regions.

01:46The European Union is the largest investor in our region, in your region.

01:51At the same time, around the world, we see a turn inward towards isolationism.

01:59But we cannot close ourselves up.

02:02On the contrary, in these times, we need to open ourselves to others.

02:07The European position is very clear.

02:10We will remain a stable, predictable and principled trade partner for CELAC.

02:16We are proud of our strong network of agreements.

02:21We are working to finalize the agreement with Mercosur and update our agreement with Mexico.

02:28And we are expanding our investments because these partnerships benefit us both.

02:36Take critical raw materials, for example.

02:39We are committed to building value chains that are truly local.

02:43This creates jobs locally.

02:46The Global Gateway Program is at the heart of our investment strategy.

02:51Two years ago, we committed 45 billion euros to this region by 2027.

02:58And we have already mobilized 31 billion euros in the last three years.

03:04Over 100 projects are underway.

03:07From green hydrogen in Brazil to sargassum in the Caribbean

03:11to sustainable transport in Costa Rica.

03:15We are also doubling down on the digital transition.

03:18Two years ago, we launched the EU-LUG Digital Alliance to expand connectivity across the region.

03:26But we know there is still more to do.

03:29That is why Europe will expand our support for shared satellite infrastructure,

03:35so that every community, no matter how remote, can get online.

03:41And so that you control your digital sovereignty.

03:45But the ability to succeed in the digital economy depends on computing power.

03:51You cannot compete if you cannot compute.

03:55So I can announce today a new EU-LUG, a supercomputing network.

04:00This is a shared network of resources and investments across our two regions.

04:05My second point is clean transition.

04:08We are meeting right before the COP-13 negotiations start.

04:14President von der Leyen was in Belém this week.

04:17We have already made enormous progress on our climate targets.

04:22A decade ago, we were headed for 3.7 degrees Celsius of warming.

04:28Now the projection is below 3.

04:31The EU has just adopted its NDC for 2035.

04:3666% to 72% in greenhouse gas reduction by 2035 from 1990.

04:46And this is a milestone on our path to reaching climate neutrality by 2050

04:52and to keeping the Paris coals within reach.

04:56And for the first time, renewables have overtaken coal as the world's leading electricity source.

05:03But the destructive effects of climate change are already here.

05:08The devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa just days ago was yet another stark reminder.

05:14Europe joined emergency efforts sending essentials like water, shelter and medical supplies.

05:21But we must also address the root cause and accelerate our efforts against climate change.

05:27Latin America and the Caribbean are setting the pace.

05:32Your solar and wind resources are amongst the strongest in the world.

05:38Renewables make up 65% of your electricity generation.

05:43Today, I'm proud that we will give support to the regional electricity integration initiative.

05:48And this is the path towards a cleaner power and greater energy security.

05:55Ladies and gentlemen, the last point I want to raise today is the security of our citizens.

06:02Here, too, we share a set of concerns.

06:05Organized crime, maritime security and cyber security.

06:10By working together, we can do more to make our citizens safer.

06:15We will increase our support for existing programs and step up our coordination between Europol and your law enforcement agencies.

06:26And I'm pleased to announce that we will expand the EU's critical maritime routes program to the entire region.

06:33This will strengthen how we share information and act together to stop crime at sea.

06:38Ladies and gentlemen, we are connected by our shared opportunities.

06:45As Octavio Paz, the Mexican poet and diplomat, once wrote,

06:49Friendship is born from the coincidence in ideas, feelings and interests.

06:56And indeed, this is our moment to turn interest into greater progress and build greater friendships.

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