Guatemala City, by Brenda Larios -AGN-. The Director for Latin America and the Caribbean and Relations with all Overseas Countries and Territories of the Directorate-General for International Partnerships of the European Commission, Felix Fernández-Shaw, is visiting Guatemala on March 4 and 5 of this year.
Through an official statement, the European Union informed: ‘Mr. Fernández-Shaw will be accompanied by representatives of the European Investment Bank and other European and international development banks and institutions, such as the French Development Agency, Cofides, KFW, the IDB, and the World Bank.”
Fernández-Shaw plans to meet with high authorities in the country, including the Vice President, Karin Herrera, ministers, state secretaries, the European and Guatemalan private sector, and international organizations.
Cooperation
The European Union, through its Global Gateway strategy, seeks to support Guatemala in making sustainable public and private investments in:
- priority infrastructures
- connected to the dual green and digital transition
- promoting partnerships between the public and private sectors
- private sector and development banks
- environment
Conoce más sobre la visita en ⬇️https://t.co/1olRCbCG0O
— Unión Europea en Guatemala (@UEGuatemala) March 4, 2024
The European Union in Guatemala stands ready to work with the new government of President Bernardo Arévalo. It also supports inclusive and sustainable development in the country by strengthening the rule of law, promoting social justice, and protecting human rights.
Environment
The visit of the Director of the European Commission also includes an exploratory mission to the Las Vacas River to identify possible support programs for the rescue of the Motagua River basin within the scope of the Global Gateway strategy.
During his visit, the Director will inaugurate, with the Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, María José Iturbide, the Annual Meeting of the European Union’s EUROCLIMA program.
The meeting gathers representatives from 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries. This annual meeting will be held in Antigua Guatemala, and will be attended by other government officials and representatives of national and international organizations.
He added that European investments in Guatemala are encouraged with the presentation of Global Gateway to the new authorities, the private sector, and public opinion. It is also aimed at promoting the construction of sustainable infrastructure that will contribute to the country’s social and economic development.
🇪🇺El Director de la Comisión Europea para América Latina y El Caribe Félix Fernández-Shaw, visita #Guatemala.
— Unión Europea en Guatemala (@UEGuatemala) March 4, 2024
Estará acompañado de representantes del Banco Europeo de Inversiones y otros bancos e instituciones europeas e internacionales de desarrollo.@EU_Partnerships 1/4 pic.twitter.com/51krAqMFA7
About the Director
Félix Fernández-Shaw has been the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean and Relations with all Overseas Countries and Territories of the Directorate-General for International Partnerships of the European Commission since October 2022. Previously, the official information mentions that he was Director of Sustainable Development Policy and Coordination in that same institution between April 2018 and October 2022.
From 2000 to 2009, he worked in Justice and Home Affairs at the Ministry of Justice of Spain as General Director of International Legal Assistance and Legislative Policy.
He worked in the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Deputy Director General for Justice and Home Affairs in the EU and as an advisor for migration at the Permanent Representation of Spain to the EU.
He began his career at the Spanish Embassy in Romania. Fernández-Shaw is a lawyer and diplomat by training.
