Kaja Kallas Details EU Investment & Partnership with Latin America and Caribbean

Trump and Orban on European Immigration

• 💡 Donald Trump praised Hungarian PM Viktor Orban's immigration policies, stating they have kept Hungary safe and prevented the crime seen in other parts of Europe.
• 🎯 Orban clarified that Hungary has zero illegal migration due to a strict system requiring permission to enter, leading to €1 million daily EU financial sanctions as punishment.
• ⚠️ Trump urged other European nations to adopt Orban's strict stance on immigration, claiming that unchecked migration has brought "tremendous crime" and is changing Europe.

EU's Commitment to Latin America & Caribbean

• 🤝 EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas emphasized shared values like democracy and the rule of law as the foundation for partnership with Latin America and the Caribbean.
• 🌍 Kallas highlighted the need for trusted, reliable partners in an increasingly volatile and competitive global environment.
• 🌱 She noted that the two regions are natural partners and are deepening their relationship to become "partners of choice."

Driving Trade and Investment

• 📊 The European Union is the largest investor in the Latin America and Caribbean region, with €410 billion in goods and services exchanged in 2023.
• 🚀 Kallas announced the Global Gateway program has mobilized €31 billion out of a €45 billion commitment by 2027, funding over 100 projects from green hydrogen to sustainable transport.
• 💻 Efforts are underway to expand digital connectivity through the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, including support for satellite infrastructure and a new supercomputing network to boost digital sovereignty.

Advancing Clean Transition

• ⚡ The EU has made significant progress on climate targets, with projections now below 3°C warming and a new NDC for 2035 aiming for 66-72% greenhouse gas reduction.
• 🌎 Kallas stressed the urgency of addressing the destructive effects of climate change, citing recent events like Hurricane Melissa.
• 🌿 The EU is supporting a regional electricity integration initiative to leverage Latin America and the Caribbean's strong renewable resources, which already account for 65% of their electricity generation.

Enhancing Citizen Security

• 🛡️ Both regions share concerns regarding organized crime, maritime security, and cybersecurity, necessitating collaborative action.
• ✅ The EU plans to increase support for existing programs and enhance coordination between Europol and local law enforcement agencies.
• 🌊 Kallas announced the expansion of the EU's critical maritime routes program to the entire region, aiming to strengthen information sharing and combat crime at sea.