More than 600 organisations that are part of La Coordinadora, together with European, Latin American and Caribbean organisations, celebrate certain advances within the Spanish Presidency and highlight some of the issues that are still pending to protect the planet and people.

The Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU is entering its final stretch: on 31 December, Spain will hand over the rotating presidency to Belgium. At the beginning of its mandate, the Spanish Presidency assured that it would promote the 2030 Agenda and highlighted, among other priorities, the ecological transition and social justice. 

During this six months of Spanish Presidency, the world has suffered a proliferation of humanitarian and political crises such as Morocco, Libya, Niger, Afghanistan, Sudan and Gaza. At the national level, the general elections were brought forward and the rise of political and social movements opposed to the values of freedom, equality and democracy defined the period of the rotating Presidency.

EU – Latin America and the Caribbean

One of the milestones during the Spanish Presidency has been the relaunching of relations between Latin America, the Caribbean and the EU. In July, the leaders of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held the 3rd EU-CELAC Summit in Brussels and adopted a new bi-regional agenda. In the days leading up to the Summit, numerous Latin American, Caribbean and European civil society organisations worked collectively in the EU-LAC Forum to ensure that our proposals were included in this new bi-regional roadmap.

In order to define solutions to problems such as the climate crisis, armed conflicts, corporate abuses or gender-based violence, it is essential that the voices of civil society are taken into account. La Coordinadora, together with a large group of Euro-Latin-Caribbean platforms, networks and organisations, proposed measures to improve one of the most unequal regions of the world and to protect human rights defenders in Latin America and the Caribbean. However, political leaders declared after the Summit that they were “taking note”. Civil society in both regions of the world will continue to demand a horizontal and rights-based bi-regional partnership.

Progress and pending issues

Towards fair rules of the game: stop corporate abuses

We welcome progress during the Spanish Presidency such as the recent political agreement reached on the European Due Diligence Directive. This legislation is a necessary milestone for companies to respect human rights and the environment around the world, but it is not enough to end corporate abuses and corporate impunity. These are issues that should be urgently addressed by successive Council presidencies.

For a new perspective: feminisms

During the Spanish Presidency, progress was made in the adoption of a European Directive on the fight against violence against women and domestic violence, based on the Istanbul Convention.In the framework of EU-LAC relations, during these months we have also worked together with our Euro-Latin-Caribbean partners to achieve the adoption of a bi-regional double pact on care and to eradicate gender-based violence that puts care at the centre as a new social model that is sustainable

For a people-centred world: human rights at the borders

During the Spanish Presidency, several organisations have promoted actions for the adoption of a European Pact on Migration and Asylum that protects the lives and dignity of migrants and refugees. We regret the state of the Pact which, after the agreement adopted in the EU Council, makes borders more dangerous and puts the lives of thousands of people at risk. We hope that the European Parliament, the institution where the negotiations will continue, will establish the right to legal and safe routes and the dignity of migrants and refugees as its horizon.

A Europe responsible to the world

Throughout all this time, we have been guided by the certainty that the only possible way forward is to put people and planet at the centre. As well as the urgent need for fair rules for all humanity. The EU has a key role and responsibilities that can’t be avoided. We will continue to work hand in hand with millions of people for a responsible Europe to the world.

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