Borrell's summit doorstep Partnership and grain deal

Jul 17–18, 2023

In his Brussels doorstep before the EU–CELAC summit, Josep Borrell says the first meeting in eight years is a geopolitical imperative and a starting point for stronger ties. He describes the partners as one billion people in sixty countries, forecasts success, and outlines digital, Mercosur, Caribbean and Venezuela meetings and business and social forums. In Spanish, he calls for political commitment, investment, rights and freedoms alongside shared history and culture. Asked about the gap, he cites COVID disruptions and acknowledges insufficient European attention. He rejects a race with China, describing China as Latin America's leading trade partner, the EU as its leading investor and Russia's economic role as negligible. On Ukraine wording, he expects repetition of UN positions on Russia's invasion. He reports Russia's same-day refusal to prolong the grain deal, warns of worldwide harm, condemns the decision, pledges EU solidarity lanes for Ukrainian exports and dismisses the sanctions justification as an excuse. On climate, he urges cooperation around biodiversity and the Amazon. He rejects an extractive relationship and urges support for local value addition to mineral resources, while saying minerals will not especially be a specific summit topic. He expects continued Mercosur work toward agreement by year-end rather than a major breakthrough that day. Closing Spanish replies express hope for joint work on global problems and confirm human rights concerning Nicaragua and Venezuela will be discussed. Expectations, assessments and pledges remain attributed; the interrupted closing questions establish no additional outcome.

EU and CELAC leaders gather in Brussels on 17–18 July 2023 after an eight-year gap. In his July 17 opening doorstep, Josep Borrell calls the meeting a geopolitical imperative and the start of renewed relations. He acknowledges insufficient European attention, rejects a race with China, and argues that investment, rights and freedoms and local value addition to mineral resources should underpin the partnership. He outlines planned meetings and forums, anticipates climate cooperation, hopes Mercosur negotiations will reach agreement by year-end and expects summit wording on Ukraine to repeat UN positions. This source supplies his opening perspective and expectations, without reporting the final declaration, a concluded trade agreement or realized investments.