Towards Care Societies: A Roundtable on the New EU–LAC Bi-regional Care Pact | Casa Amèrica Catalunya
© European Union, 2025, licensed under CC BY 4.0
How can the EU and Latin America build fairer Care Societies?
Join the roundtable on the new Bi-regional Care Pact in Barcelona, 26th Feb at 18.30hrs CET, with leading voices from EU-LAC.
Within the framework of the cooperation agreement signed between both institutions, IBEI and Casa Amèrica Catalunya, with the support of the MSCA Doctoral Network ‘LAC-EU’ and the Jean Monnet Network ‘EULAS’, are organising a roundtable to discuss the scope of the recently launched Bi-regional Care Pact, approved by the European Union and several Latin American and Caribbean countries at the CELAC–EU Summit of Heads of State and Government, held in Santa Marta, Colombia, in November 2025.
The Bi-regional Care Pact represents a significant step forward towards just and egalitarian Care Societies, and opens up new opportunities for dialogue and collaboration at the bi-regional level to advance this fundamental agenda.
We invite you to join this conversation to explore this document in depth, analyse its importance, and collectively reflect on the impact that this milestone has for bi-regional cooperation.
The session will be moderated by Natalia Escoffier, doctoral researcher in our MSCA Doctoral Network (IBEI-UPF) and will feature the participation of:
Ana Güezmes García: Director of the Gender Affairs Division at ECLAC (pre-recorded intervention, representing the Regional Conferences on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean). A medical doctor and public health specialist with more than 35 years of international experience promoting gender equality. She has held leadership positions at UN Women and worked with organisations such as UNFPA, WHO, PAHO and AECID. She also co-founded the Gender Studies Programme at the National University of San Marcos in Peru.
Leire Pajín Iraola: Member of the European Parliament since July 2024. A sociologist with a master’s degree in Organisational Management, she has extensive experience in international relations, sustainable development, global health and cooperation. She has held senior positions at the United Nations, international foundations and sustainable development networks, and previously served as Spain’s Minister of Health, Social Policy and Equality and as Secretary of State for International Cooperation.
Anna Barrera: Director of Programmes at the International Foundation European Union–Latin America and the Caribbean (EU-LAC Foundation), where she leads knowledge generation on bi-regional relations through dialogues, analysis and publications, and supports activities on multilateralism, democracy, climate, environment and gender equality. She has extensive experience in development cooperation and international relations in institutions such as UN Women and UNDP. She holds a PhD in Political Science, specialising in human rights, indigenous peoples, legal pluralism and gender relations in the Andean region.
Andrea Costafreda: Director General for Development Cooperation of the Government of Catalonia. She holds a degree in Political Science, a master’s degree in the Information Society and a specialisation in conflict resolution, and has a solid career in cooperation and international relations. She previously led the Latin America and Mediterranean programme at Oxfam Intermón and is an expert member of the Catalan Development Cooperation Council. She has worked as a consultant for multilateral organisations and public administrations, and combines her professional activity with teaching and academic research.
Inma Alonso: Coordinator of the EU–LAC civil society working group. She holds a degree in Journalism, a master’s degree in Political Action — specialising in equality and gender-based violence — a postgraduate degree in International Information, and is a PhD candidate in Communication, focusing on public care policies. She has over 15 years of experience in civil society in Spain, Africa and Latin America, leading strategies on political and social advocacy, public affairs, communication and mobilisation. In recent years, she has closely followed EU–LAC relations and the Bi-regional Care Pact.
The roundtable is open to all those interested in relations between the EU and Latin America and the Caribbean and in care policies. If you are in Barcelona, we warmly invite you to join us! No prior registration is required to attend the event, just come and take part in the conversation. We look forward to seeing you there. Please note that the event will be held in Spanish.