(VOVworld) – The European Commission announced on Thursday at the summit of leaders from the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, or CELAC, that it will support 700 million EUR to CELAC countries, including 230 million EUR for sustainable development.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (L) welcomes Bolivia’s President Evo Morales at the beginning of the EU-CELAC Latin America summit in Brussels, June 10, 2015. (Photo: Reuters)

At a press conference following the two-day summit in Brussels, EC President Jean-Claude Juncker said the EC also pledged to provide CELAC with 32 million EUR to improve social links over the next 4 years, 15 million EUR on pesticide programs on coffee plants in Central America, and 10 million EUR for anti-drug efforts.
During the summit, the EU signed 2 agreements with Chile and Uruguay in enhancing international co-operation and poverty reduction. Bolivia, Honduras, and Colombia are the countries to benefit most from the programs. In the joint statement, the EU and Latin American and Caribbean States call on the US to lift its embargo on Cuba.