Executive Summary
The VII Summit of Heads of State and Government of CELAC, held in Buenos Aires in January 2023, reaffirmed the commitment to regional integration, democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. Key focuses included post-pandemic economic recovery, food and energy security, health strategy enhancement, and addressing the world drug problem with a human rights approach. The summit emphasized environmental cooperation, climate action, disaster risk management, and digital transformation, highlighting the importance of science, technology, and innovation. It addressed social issues such as gender equality, youth participation, Afro-descendant rights, indigenous languages, migration, disability, education, and culture. The summit also stressed public integrity, anti-corruption efforts, and strengthened multilateral cooperation. Special attention was given to regional challenges in Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and sovereignty disputes like the Malvinas. The event celebrated Brazil's return to CELAC and welcomed Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as the new Pro Tempore Presidency, underscoring unity and collaborative progress in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Characteristics
- CELAC emphasizes regional integration, unity, and respect for sovereignty, democracy, human rights, and multilateralism to promote development and overcome poverty and inequalities in Latin America and the Caribbean.
- The Summit addresses post-pandemic economic recovery, food and energy security, highlighting the need for sustainable development, financial support, and cooperation to tackle crises exacerbated by COVID-19 and global instability.
- Environmental cooperation focuses on climate action, biodiversity financing, renewable energy, and disaster risk management, stressing the importance of international support and regional coordination.
- The Summit promotes health self-sufficiency, joint vaccine production, and equitable access to medicines, alongside strategies to combat the world drug problem with a human rights approach.
- Digital transformation, science, technology, and innovation are prioritized for social inclusion, economic growth, and regional competitiveness, with attention to cybersecurity, disinformation, and digital rights.
- The declaration supports cultural diversity, education, migration management, gender equality, Afro-descendant and indigenous rights, and regional infrastructure projects to enhance integration and sustainable development.
Actors
Civil Society Actors
Economic Actors
Political Actors
Research and Innovation Actors
Practical Applications
- Coordination, with technical support from ECLAC, to hold a meeting of Ministers of Economy and Finance in the first semester of 2023 to design a common agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean responding to the global economic crisis.
- Updating the Plan for Food Security, Nutrition and the Eradication of Hunger of CELAC 2025 (SAN-CELAC) with technical assistance from FAO, IICA, ECLAC, ALADI, and other cooperation agencies.
- Relaunch of the CELAC Working Group on Labor as a permanent mechanism for tripartite social dialogue.
- Continuation and strengthening of the CELAC Health Self-Sufficiency Plan to boost local and regional production and distribution of vaccines, medicines, and critical supplies through technology transfer and innovation support.
- Strengthening joint international purchase mechanisms for vaccines and essential medicines, including public procurement and creation of consortia for vaccine development and production.
- Support for WHO and PAHO in drafting amendments to International Health Regulations and negotiating international instruments on pandemic prevention and response.
- Implementation of the CELAC Fund for Climate Adaptation and Comprehensive Response to Natural Disasters (FACRID) to finance projects for disaster prevention, response, mitigation, and recovery.
- Holding the VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean in Punta del Este, Uruguay, in early 2023 to strengthen cooperation and share best practices.
- Establishment of five CELAC working groups on Science, Technology and Innovation in the areas of Ancestral Science, Aerospace Research, Regional Evaluators Network, Energy Transition, and Biotechnology (Agriculture and Health).
- Implementation of the cooperation program for teaching Spanish to diplomatic officials of CARICOM by the Institute of the Foreign Service of the Nation (ISEN) of Argentina, with recommendation for its continuation.
- Organization of the “Update and Training Program for young diplomats on the CELAC-EU strategic association” jointly by the EU-LAC Foundation and ISEN.
- Adoption of the “Joint Action Plan for Cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology for sustainable development (2022-2023)” between CELAC Member States and the IAEA.
- Strengthening the Specialized Working Group on Prevention and Fight against Corruption, including implementation of corruption alerts, whistleblower protection, training, and regional cooperation.
- Promotion of joint interventions and strategic alliances with international, regional, and sub-regional organizations such as ECLAC, CAF, FAO, SELA, ACS, OECS, CARICOM, SICA, IICA, and CDEMA.
- Reactivation of CELAC Meetings on Migration and the CELAC-EU Structured and Integral Dialogue on Migration.
- Support for the “Council of Youth of Latin America and the Caribbean” to foster youth participation in public policy design.
- Promotion of the Ibero-American Institute of Indigenous Languages to conserve and promote indigenous languages.
- Support for the International Year of Camelids in 2024 as per UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/72/210.
- Support for Brazil’s candidacy to host COP-30 in 2025 in Belém do Pará.
- Holding the Regional Conference on the social and humanitarian impact of autonomous weapons in February 2023 in San José, Costa Rica.
- Promotion of the Bi-Oceanic Integration Rail Corridor Project and Bi-Oceanic Road Corridor to enhance regional physical integration and trade.
- Promotion of the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway and sub-regional integration mechanisms for fluvial navigation to facilitate regional trade.
- Promotion of regional energy integration infrastructure projects and evaluation of regional electrical interconnection projects respecting national sovereignty and sustainable development.
- Celebration and promotion of virtual cultural events and use of technology to strengthen cultural access and preservation.
- Cooperation program on Spanish language teaching for Caribbean diplomatic officials in collaboration with the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI).
- Support for the development of digital skills and infrastructure to guarantee universal connectivity and narrow digital and gender gaps.
- Promotion of open government approaches and transparency in digital transformation of public services.
- Cooperation and coordination between States to combat cybercrime, disinformation, and illegal content on the Internet.
- Promotion of regional cooperation in disaster risk management with emphasis on Small Island States, landlocked countries, and Central American Isthmus countries.
- Support for Haiti through regional and extra-regional consensus and cooperation to address security and humanitarian crises, including participation in a specialized multinational force to combat organized crime and illicit arms trafficking.
Resulting Commitments
- Commit to the success of the celebration of the International Year of Camelids in 2024 (point 9).
- Coordinate, with the technical support of ECLAC, the holding of a meeting of Ministers of Economy and Finance in the first semester of 2023 to design a common agenda for Latin America and the Caribbean to respond to the current global economic crisis (point 12).
- Update the Plan for Food Security, Nutrition and the Eradication of Hunger of CELAC 2025 (SAN-CELAC) with technical assistance from FAO, IICA, ECLAC, ALADI and other agencies (point 15).
- Continue implementing government actions to place persons at the core of health and resilience policies, including vulnerable groups (point 17).
- Continue implementing the CELAC Health Self-Sufficiency Plan to strengthen local and regional production and distribution of vaccines, medicines, and critical supplies (point 18).
- Strengthen mechanisms for joint international purchase of vaccines and essential medicines, creation of consortia for vaccine development and production, and regulatory convergence (point 19).
- Support the negotiation of an international instrument on prevention, preparation and response to pandemics guaranteeing universal and equitable access to essential supplies (point 21).
- Mobilize at least US$200 billion annually from public and private sources to finance biodiversity-related plans and strategies; increase total international financial flows from developed to developing countries to $20 billion a year by 2025 and $30 billion a year by 2030 (point 26).
- Developed countries to jointly mobilize 100 billion dollars per year from 2020 until 2025 for climate financing to support developing countries (point 27).
- Brazil to host the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP-30) in 2025 in Belém do Pará (point 28).
- Advance in SDG 6 (water and sanitation) towards the Conference on the Comprehensive Midterm Review of the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028" to be held in New York from March 22 to 24, 2023 (point 36).
- Prompt regulation of the CELAC Fund for Climate Adaptation and Comprehensive Response to Natural Disasters (FACRID) to implement projects for prevention, response, mitigation, and disaster recovery (point 38).
- Hold the VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean in Punta del Este, Uruguay, from February 28 to March 2, 2023 (point 39).
- Establish five working groups on Ancestral Science, Aerospace Research, Regional Evaluators Network, Energy Transition, and Biotechnology, with competencies and expected results to be agreed by National Coordinators (point 43).
- Advance the digital transformation of States to guarantee agile, efficient, modern, accessible and inclusive public services, promoting open government approaches and transparency (point 48).
- Hold the Regional Conference on the social and humanitarian impact of autonomous weapons from February 23 to 24, 2023, in San José, Costa Rica (point 52).
- Continue working on the digital transformation to narrow digital and gender gaps and ensure universal access to connectivity, especially for vulnerable groups and remote areas (point 45).
- Reaffirm the commitment to the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, commemorating its 20th anniversary in 2023 (point 90).
- Hold the CELAC-China Forum Summit in 2024 on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the forum (point 99).
- Hold the VIII Regional Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Americas and the Caribbean from February 28 to March 2, 2023 (point 39).
- Hold the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government on March 25, 2023, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (point 95).
- Hold the Specialized Expo 2027/28 of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina (point 97).
- Continue advancing in the promotion of integration and insertion of migrants and national and regional migration policies for socioeconomic integration (point 67).
- Continue working to counter multidimensional causes of migration through irregular channels and promote safe, orderly, and regular migration (point 68).
- Reactivate the CELAC Meetings on Migration and the CELAC-EU Structured and Integral Dialogue on Migration (point 70).
- Continue developing public policies and international actions to support the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022-2032 (point 64).
- Continue working on the CELAC Health Self-Sufficiency Plan with objectives for strengthening local and regional production and distribution of vaccines, medicines, and critical supplies through technology transfer (point 18).
- Hold the III Summit of Heads of State and Government during 2023 (point 100).
- Celebrate the "Film Week For Young Filmmakers Of CELAC" and other cultural events (point 78).
- Continue the cooperation program regarding the teaching of the Spanish language for diplomatic officials of CARICOM (point 81).
- Continue the implementation of the Spanish Course for Beginners for English-speaking public officials and agents from Caribbean countries (point 82).
- Continue working on the establishment of the Latin American and Caribbean Space Agency (ALCE) (point 84).
- Implement the “Joint Action Plan for Cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology for sustainable development (2022-2023)” (point 85).
- Hold the CELAC-CAF International Seminar "Latin America and the Caribbean: Unity in Diversity" (point 94).
- Support the candidacy of Brazil to host COP-30 in 2025 (point 28).
- Hold the Regional Conference on the social and humanitarian impact of autonomous weapons from February 23 to 24, 2023 (point 52).
- Hold the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government on March 25, 2023 (point 95).
- Hold the CELAC-China Forum Summit in 2024 (point 99).
- Hold the III Meeting of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of CELAC with the European Union in 2022-2023 (point 100).
- Hold the Specialized Expo 2027/28 in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina (point 97).
Technical Details
Scope
Multilateral
Lead Country
Argentina (ARG)
Policy & Strategic Alignment
EU Policy Alignment
SDG Alignment
Beneficiary Groups
Afro-descendant Groups
Indigenous Peoples & Ethnic Groups
Indigenous Communities
Indigenous Peoples & Ethnic Groups
Migrants
Migrants & Refugees
Youth
Students & Youth
Women in Tech
Women & Girls
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Biodiversity Financing
Public and private sources, developed countries
Environment / Biodiversity
Climate Financing Mobilization
Developed countries, CELAC member states
Environment / Climate Finance
Health Capacity Coordination Improvement
CELAC member states
Health
International Financial Flows for Biodiversity
Developed countries
Environment / Biodiversity
Labor Working Group Relaunch
CELAC member states
Labor / Social Dialogue
Ministerial Meeting Coordination
CELAC member states, ECLAC
Economic Policy / Regional Integration
SDG 6 Implementation and Review
CELAC member states
Sustainable Development / Water and Sanitation
Scientific Capacity Building and Collaboration
CELAC member states
Science, Technology and Innovation
Universal Digital Connectivity and Skills Development
CELAC member states
Digital Transformation / ICT