BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC -The implementation of the European Union’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda, which aims to boost investment in Belize in digital transformation, climate and energy, transport, health, and education, were among matters discussed during the Partnership Dialogue held between Belize and the EU, according to an official statement issued here.
The statement said that the meeting held earlier this week was constructive and addressed the multifaceted relationship between Belize and the EU. It was co-chaired by Belize’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Culture and Immigration, Francis Fonseca, and Erja Askola, Ambassador of the European Union.
It said both parties are aligned on many critical global issues and are committed to respecting the international legal order and promoting multilateralism. It reiterated “their commitment to further strengthen their partnership, grounded in shared values and interests.”
According to the statement, the dialogue reviewed development cooperation, assessing the progress of ongoing projects under the 11th European Development Fund and new initiatives under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) on green growth in the south and border management.
It said the EU also provided updates on its regional programs, such as Environment and Climate Change, Trade, and Good Governance, which benefit Belize, the Caribbean, and Central America.
“Discussions also covered the implementation of the EU’s Global Gateway Investment Agenda, which aims to boost investment in Belize in digital transformation, climate and energy, transport, health, and education,” the statement noted.
The European Union—Latin America and the Caribbean Global Gateway Investment Agenda (GGIA) highlights potential investment projects that can help address the region’s infrastructure needs while creating local added value and promoting growth, jobs, and social cohesion.
The EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda is a political commitment to work together, identifying fair green and digital investment opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean, which will benefit from the open environment generated by trade and investment agreements and will help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The EU-LAC Global Gateway Investment Agenda will be delivered through Team Europe initiatives: the EU, its Member States, development financing institutions, including the European Investment Bank (EIB), export credit agencies, and all other public sources of funding will collaborate in public-private partnerships with the private sector.
The statement also provided updates on the EU-Economic Partnership Agreement, including its challenges and opportunities.
“Belize and the EU reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening their partnership at the multilateral level, particularly in the upcoming EU-CELAC Summit, which will take place in Colombia in November 2025,” the statement said.
It said Belize is interested in being added to the list of countries benefiting from the Schengen visa waiver.
“Another significant topic was the ongoing case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Guatemala’s territorial, maritime, and insular claim on Belize, along with the EU’s support for confidence-building measures in the Adjacency Zone between Belize and Guatemala ahead of the ICJ’s ruling,” the statement added.
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