Executive Vice-President Vestager in Latin America to forge stronger cooperation in digital policies, critical raw materials, and science and innovation

Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager is visiting Latin America this week to establish deeper cooperation between the EU and Latin America under the Global Gateway strategy, notably in digital technologies and innovation, sustainable raw materials, and research and space, for the benefit of the citizens and businesses in both regions.

She started her tour on Saturday in Chile (11-13 March) where she discussed strengthened collaboration on digital policies and rights including privacy, cybersecurity or platforms. She advanced discussions on forging a strategic partnerships on critical minerals to develop resilient and sustainable value chains, with a focus on clean technologies, and highlighted the great potential of strengthening cooperation in science, innovation and space, based on common priorities. She announced the launch of a new programme to expand the Copernicus data repository to the Latin American and Caribbean region.

In the run-up to the EU–CELAC Summit taking place in July 2023, Executive Vice-President Vestager is travelling on to Colombia for the launch of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance on 14 March, a concrete example of how the EU is stepping up its engagement with Latin American and Caribbean Partners. The EU-LAC Digital Alliance responds to both regions’ shared interest to champion a human-centric approach to the digital transformation, focusing on common values and the people’s rights and freedoms. This will be supported under Global Gateway, the EU’s strategy for delivering trusted and sustainable connections with partner countries in digital, transport and energy and green infrastructure.

In Colombia, she will meet President Gustavo Petro and several ministers to take forward enhanced cooperation in the digital and green transitions in support of the peace agenda. She will also launch a bilateral investment package with Colombia on digital and green growth as part of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance.

From 15 until 17 March, Executive Vice-President Vestager will be in Brazil, where she will focus on enhanced cooperation in the areas of digital infrastructure and connectivity, research and innovation, and regulatory cooperation on data governance, cybersecurity, platforms and e-governance. She will also discuss cooperation on critical raw materials.