On 4 June 2026, the European Union and Uruguay held the XIV Joint Cooperation Commission meeting in Montevideo, co-chaired by Uruguay's Director General for Political Affairs, Ambassador Martín Vidal, and the EU's Director for the Americas, Ambassador Pelayo Castro Zuzuárregui. The meeting reviewed bilateral, regional, and multilateral relations, with a focus on deepening cooperation on transnational organised crime, advancing the green and digital transition, and welcoming the provisional application of the Interim Trade Agreement (ITA) as of 1 May 2026.
Both sides reiterated their commitment to shared values including democracy, rule of law, human rights, and climate action. They highlighted progress under the Euroclima and Inclusive Societies programmes, part of the EU's Global Gateway initiative. Uruguay expressed gratitude for EU support in its transition to development and triangular cooperation.
Security cooperation was a key focus, with both parties expressing concern over the sophistication of transnational organised crime, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and human trafficking. They agreed to deepen cooperation on security and justice systems, emphasising convergence of standards on asset recovery, digital evidence, and data protection. Uruguay highlighted the relevance of EU cooperation under the Citizen Security Alliance, launched at the November 2025 CELAC-EU Summit, and programmes such as COPOLAD, PAcCTO, EUROFRONT, SEACOP, EU Crimario, and COLIBRÍ.
On trade, both sides welcomed the provisional application of the ITA from 1 May 2026 and expressed desire for the EU-MERCOSUR Political and Sectoral Cooperation Agreement (signed in January 2026) to also be provisionally applied soon. The EU remains Uruguay's largest foreign investor, accounting for nearly 40% of total FDI, particularly in forestry, energy, ICT, and agribusiness.
Regarding the international situation, the EU recognised Uruguay's consistent position in defence of international law since the start of Russia's aggression against Ukraine. The EU expressed hope that Uruguay would join the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. Both parties agreed on the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Uruguay, as pro tempore president of CELAC, reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the CELAC-EU Roadmap and birregional initiatives including the EU-LAC Alliance for Citizen Security, the Birregional Care Pact, and the Digital Alliance. A meeting of CELAC and EU foreign ministers is planned for September 2026 during the UN High-Level Week.
The meeting also took place alongside events on the EU-CELAC partnership, a meeting of the EU-LAC Foundation's Governing Board (the first in Latin America), and a forum on the bi-regional relationship, held in Montevideo from 3 to 5 June 2026.
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