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Spain’s business confederation CEOE called for the EU-Mercosur agreement to be ratified as soon as possible at the presentation of the 16th Ibero-American Business Meeting. The event comes as Latin American investment in Spain has reached €60 billion, five times its level 20 years ago, and now accounts for nearly 10% of foreign investment in the country.
Spain’s business confederation CEOE called on Thursday for the European Union-Mercosur agreement to be ratified as soon as possible, making the appeal at the presentation of a major Ibero-American business meeting in Madrid. The call comes as Latin American investment in Spain has reached a reported €60 billion, five times its level two decades ago and nearly 10% of foreign investment in the country.
The appeal was made ahead of the 16th Ibero-American Business Meeting, due to take place at Madrid’s Las Ventas on November 3 and 4, alongside the 30th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government. Organizers say more than 2,000 executives are expected to attend. Businesses plan to present political leaders with priorities including legal certainty, stable regulation and investment in infrastructure that creates greater value.
CEOE president Antonio Garamendi pointed to business involvement in efforts to advance multilateral agreements. He recalled work earlier this year with Economy, Trade and Business Minister Carlos Cuerpo at Spain’s embassy in Paris, where they engaged with French business leaders and officials who have traditionally been reluctant to support the Mercosur agreement. The source material does not specify what commitments, if any, came out of those discussions.
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said investment increasingly flows in both directions. He described Latin American investment in Spain as being at a record level, with the €60 billion figure representing growth over 20 years. Albares also said nearly 30% of Spain’s foreign direct investment is concentrated in Latin America and the Caribbean, making Spain the region’s second-largest investor. Those figures refer to different directions of investment and should not be conflated.
Trade Ties Amid Tariff Risks
The push for the agreement reflects business concerns about protectionist pressures, geopolitical fragmentation and possible new US-led tariff measures, as described in the source material. A ratified trade accord could set rules for commerce between the EU and Mercosur, but the call by CEOE is an appeal, not evidence that ratification is imminent or that the agreement has entered into force.
The investment figures also show why the relationship matters beyond trade negotiations. Latin American investors have become a substantial part of Spain’s foreign investment landscape, while Spanish capital is concentrated across Latin America and the Caribbean. Albares argued that established trust should translate into more trade, integrated supply chains and joint projects with greater technological value. These are government aims, not outcomes confirmed by the figures alone.
At the Madrid forum, the business agenda is broader than tariff policy. Participants are expected to discuss legal certainty, regulation, infrastructure and energy. The organizers and officials present the meeting as a venue for public-private cooperation, while regional productivity has remained structurally weak for more than 15 years, according to Ibero-American Secretary-General Andrés Allamand.
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The Forum and Its Trade Agenda
The November gathering coincides with the 30th Ibero-American Summit, creating a setting for business representatives to put proposals before political leaders. The meeting is scheduled to close with a dialogue involving Spain’s prime minister and several regional leaders, followed by a ceremony with King Felipe VI, according to the supplied material.
Trade links are supported by the EU’s agreements with countries and regions including Mexico, Chile, Central America, Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, as well as the proposed Mercosur arrangement. Spain’s Secretary of State for Trade, Amparo López Senovilla, described the 22-country Ibero-American community as a market of nearly 700 million people and around 9% of global GDP. These are the figures she cited while making the case for deeper economic ties; they do not establish the effect of any single agreement.
Energy is another focus. Allamand said the region has potential in abundant, competitive and clean electricity. He called for public and private actors to work together, linking energy investment with productivity and wider economic integration.
““Without this public-private collaboration, it will not be possible to talk about competitiveness, economic integration, innovation, or the energy transition.””
— Antonio Garamendi, president of CEOE
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Ratification and Investment Details
The supplied information gives no ratification timetable for the EU-Mercosur agreement and does not say which legislative or political steps remain. CEOE’s call does not confirm that the deal has secured the support needed to take effect. The source also does not provide a breakdown of the €60 billion in Latin American investment by country, industry or year, or define the precise measurement method behind the foreign-investment shares.
It is also unclear which specific policy proposals companies will present at the meeting, whether leaders will respond to them, or what decisions may follow the summit. The attendance figure is an organizer’s expectation; the material does not confirm final participation.
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Madrid Meeting in November
The next scheduled milestone is the business meeting at Las Ventas on November 3 and 4. More than 2,000 in-person attendees are expected, with senior corporate speakers and discussions on trade, investment, infrastructure and energy. Business representatives are set to present their strategic requests to political leaders during the event.
The meeting is due to include a dialogue between Spain’s prime minister and regional leaders and conclude with a ceremony attended by King Felipe VI. The supplied material does not identify the participating regional leaders or set out a formal decision point for the Mercosur agreement. Any progress on ratification will depend on developments beyond CEOE’s appeal.
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Key Questions
What did CEOE call for?
CEOE urged the EU-Mercosur agreement to be ratified as soon as possible. The appeal was made at the presentation of the 16th Ibero-American Business Meeting.
When and where will the business meeting take place?
The event is scheduled for November 3 and 4 at Madrid’s Las Ventas, alongside the 30th Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government.
How much Latin American investment is reported in Spain?
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said it has reached €60 billion, five times its level 20 years ago, and accounts for nearly 10% of total foreign investment in Spain.
Has the EU-Mercosur agreement been ratified?
The source material does not say that it has. It records CEOE’s call for prompt ratification but gives no timetable or confirmation that the agreement has taken effect.
Source: rss
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