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EU and Latin America upcoming bi-regional Summit
By Guy José Bendaña-Guerrero & Asociados
As the European Union and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) gear up for the Bi-Regional Summit in Santa Marta, Colombia fron November 9 to 10, 2025, Central America plays a pivotal role in shaping what promises to be an agenda anchored in sustainability, digital innovation, and deeper political cooperation. The region has increasingly been in focus due to its strategic geographic, environmental, and economic importance for both the EU and Latin America more broadly.
One of the key developments for Central America is the Association Agreement between the EU and Central America, formally ratified in recent months. This agreement builds on pillars of political dialogue, trade, and cooperation. It strengthens long-term ties by opening up trade, reducing tariffs, and improving access for Central American countries to European markets. It also includes mechanisms for dealing with non-tariff barriers, which have often hampered trade flows.
Under the EU-LAC (Latin America & Caribbean) partnership, Central America stands to benefit from the Global Gateway Investment Agenda, a flagship EU initiative aimed at mobilizing some €45 billion in investment to support high-priority areas. For Central America specifically, these investments are expected in sectors such as: digital connectivity (including future expansion of infrastructure like the BELLA submarine cable and its terrestrial extensions), renewable energy, sustainable transport, health, education, and climate resilience.
Another important dimension is trade: in 2024, trade flows between the EU and Central America reached roughly €19.26 billion, with the EU running a surplus of around €1.34 billion. This trade relationship is expected to deepen under the Association Agreement, which will provide more predictability for businesses, facilitate investment, and encourage standards that align with environmental sustainability, labor rights, and good governance.
On the digital front, Central American countries are positioned to gain a lot from the EU-LAC Digital Alliance and related initiatives. The extension of BELLA’s terrestrial backbone to Central American states like Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras will allow more people better access to connectivity, furthering digital inclusion and innovation. The region also stands to benefit from innovation partnerships under the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator, which link European and Latin American startups, corporations, and public entities to collaborate on technology, climate, disaster management, and research.
Lastly, social inclusion, human development, and democracy are also central to what Central America could gain. The EU is promoting programmes to strengthen governance, rule of law, democratic institutions, and human rights, alongside projects in education, health, and social inclusion. An example is El Salvador, where EU partnerships are targeting digital transformation, climate action, and governance improvements.
Guy José Bendaña-Guerrero & Asociados
GUY JOSE BENDAÑA GUERRERO & ASOCIADOS has a long and prosperous tradition in the field of intellectual property (IP) in Nicaragua, with roots that go back to more than 100 years, resulting on long-term relationships with renowned clients and attorneys worldwide.
The firm has its origins in the law firm Henry Caldera & Henry Caldera-Pallais, founded in 1907 by Mr. Henry Caldera. That same year of 1907, through the efforts of Mr. Caldera, Nicaragua had its first Trademark Law. In the late 1930’s, Mr. Caldera’s oldest son, Dr. Henry Caldera-Pallais, after studying law in Nicaragua, attended the University of Michigan, where he graduated as a Registered U.S. Patent Attorney. Dr. Caldera-Pallais in 1964 was a founding member of the Interamerican Association of Intellectual Property (ASIPI), the first regional intellectual property organization in the Americas. The firm continued to grow during the administration of Dr. Franklin Caldera, son of Dr. Caldera-Pallais, who obtained his doctoral degree in law from the Universidad Centroamericana in 1973.
Since 1985 the current partners, Dr. Guy José Bendaña Guerrero and Mrs. Blanca Aragón de Bendaña, took over the management of the firm. Dr. Bendaña Guerrero, Director of the firm, has distinguished himself as one of the most respected authorities in Central America in the field of intellectual property and law in general, being the author of several books such as “Course of Industrial Property Law”, “Study of the new Laws of Industrial Property” and “New Study of Contracts “, among others. Mrs. Aragón de Bendaña has served as the firm’s general manager and, thanks to her excellent management, the firm has been in constant growth, with a highly qualified staff committed to excellence. Since 1996, partner Julián José Bendaña Aragón joined the firm, and has been standing out as one of the most recognized attorneys in the field of intellectual property.
We have adapted to the constant change of the business world, supporting our clients in finding the most appropriate legal solutions for each moment. The firm distinguishes itself by understanding the needs of its clients, offering personalized service and adding value to its activities.
Nowadays we continue to be the leading firm in Nicaragua in the area of intellectual property, and at the same time, we have been consolidating other areas of service within the civil, commercial and labor fields, as well as litigation and consulting in general. The firm is well positioned to guarantee a pragmatic service that meets the requirements of the most demanding clients.