Kickoff Meeting for the EULAS Network: A Collaborative Start

The EULAS Network officially launched with its Kickoff Meeting on February 11, 2025, marking the beginning of an ambitious three-year initiative aimed at strengthening academic cooperation between the European Union (EU) and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Hosted by the Institut Barcelona d’Estudis Internacionals (IBEI), the event brought together representatives from 24 leading higher education institutions across both regions.

The meeting outlined EULAS’ core objectives, including the generation and dissemination of innovative research on EU-LAC relations, the development of teaching resources, and fostering long-term academic collaboration. Key highlights included the introduction of the four thematic work packages, covering trade and investment, climate and biodiversity, democracy and human rights, and social and cultural cooperation.

EULAS will achieve its goals through conferences, expert surveys, online courses (MOOC), a textbook, blogs, podcasts, and webinars, ensuring broad public engagement. The network also unveiled a timeline of major events, including regional conferences in Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, and Chile over the next three years.The meeting concluded with a roadmap for upcoming deliverables, including the launch of the EULAS website and blog in March 2025. The consortium looks forward to a collaborative and impactful journey in EU-LAC academic synergy.