Santa Marta,Colombia – A significantly reduced number of heads of state and government-just nine-are attending the CELAC-EU Summit in Colombia,officials confirmed Saturday,as negotiators work to finalize a key declaration potentially as early as today.
The diminished attendance casts a shadow over the summit, intended to revitalize ties between the European Union and the community of Latin American and Caribbean States. While the meeting was originally scheduled for Sunday and Monday, sources indicate efforts are underway to conclude the most critical decisions with the “Santa Marta Declaration” today, potentially shortening the summit to a single day. The EU delegation will remain in Santa Marta through Monday for planned meetings with member countries of the caribbean Community (Caricom).
Among those present will be the Presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and Colombia, Gustavo Petro, as well as the Prime Ministers of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and Portugal, António Costa. Also attending are the Prime Ministers of Guyana,Mark Phillips,and Saint Kitts and Nevis,Terrance Drew.
The summit is set to open Sunday at noon with a plenary session, followed by leader addresses, a formal photograph, and a working lunch.The focus will be on strengthening bi-regional cooperation and addressing shared challenges, though the limited participation raises questions about the level of commitment from across both blocs.
