Director of Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace of the European Commission visited the country to strengthen the partnership between the EU and Ecuador

Director of Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace of the European Commission visited the country to strengthen the partnership between the EU and Ecuador

The Director of Human Development, Migration, Governance and Peace of the European Commission, Erica Gerretsen, made an official visit to Ecuador from 7 to 10 July to meet with the main national and local authorities, civil society and the private sector in order to promote cooperation projects to strengthen institutions; sustainable development; and people-centered security, human rights and social justice.

Launch of the Program of Security, Hope and Resilience for Peace in Ecuador (SERPAZ)

As part of the EU's broad commitment to responding to international crises, security and regional stability, Director Gerretsen participated in the launch of the Programme for Security, Hope and Resilience for Peace in Ecuador (SERPAZ) in the Foreign Ministry alongside Gabriela Sommerfeld, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility. "We are pleased to see this initiative, announced in December 2024 in the framework of the 4th EU-Ecuador Technical Security Bureau, become a reality. This action complements our regional security programmes such as COPOLAD, El PAcCTO, EUROFRONT and the partnerships with EUROPOL; It will be developed in close cooperation with the Ecuadorian government to achieve greater impact and ensure its sustainability." said the European official.

With an investment of EUR 12M, for 36 months, SERPAZ will work on four components: 1. Anti-money laundering, 2. Prison security, 3. Safe cargo and 4. Resilient communities. In line with this project, which seeks to focus on territories affected by violence and organized crime groups; this high-level visit presented components 3 and 4 of SERPAZ in Guayaquil with the Mayor of the city, A. Álvarez, business unions and representatives of civil society.

Support for democracy and electoral processes

Director Gerretsen held a meeting with the electoral support projects funded by the European Union: Active Democracy and Democratic Strengthening of Electoral Institutions in Ecuador. During the meeting, the positive results achieved with regard to the promotion of democratic culture, the promotion of informed voting, transparency and the political participation of excluded groups were shared. The most urgent electoral reforms were also analyzed and possible niches of future cooperation on this issue were identified to consolidate Ecuador as a more stable, reliable and strategic partner for the European Union.

"The EU recognizes the importance of continuing to work alongside the country to protect democratic institutions and civil society space by strengthening the rule of law and governance through more transparent, inclusive and resilient electoral processes". On the latter point, Director Gerretsen referred to the success of the EU Election Observation Mission, which participated in the elections of February and April 2025 at the invitation of the Government of Ecuador, and which presented its recommendations on 27 June.

Global Gateway: Renewable Energy Portfolio

Director Gerretsen and Minister of Energy and Mines Inés Manzano had the opportunity to delve into European investment opportunities in renewable energy. The meeting highlighted as a key milestone the investment of USD 125M from the European Investment Bank (EIB) together with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in the Ecuador-Peru Electric Interconnector for Andean energy integration. Also mentioned was the USD 75M loan to the National Corporation of Popular and Solidarity Finance (CONAFIPS) that will finance energy efficiency solutions for SMEs, under the financial combination mechanism DESIRÉE of the European Union, whose signature is scheduled for the end of this year.

Director Gerretsen welcomed Ecuador's efforts to increase its renewable energy capacity and transmission infrastructure. "This is essential to address climate change and to improve the resilience of the Ecuadorian electricity grid",he added that in the face of the energy crisis that the country faced in 2023, the EU has prioritised boosting the energy transition, supporting clean and sustainable energy projects through the Global Gateway strategy, which mobilises quality investments through the combination of donations, loans, financial guarantees and technical assistance. In the coming months, the EU Delegation and Team Europe will consolidate a portfolio of investments focused on renewable energy and improving the investment climate.

Sustainability and the green economy of cities through the first EFSD+ FAST-Cities guarantee in the region

Accompanied by representatives of the Municipal Public Company of Toilet of Cuenca (EMAC EP), the Director Gerretsen toured the Sanitary Filling of Pichacay to then maintain an exchange with the Mayor of Cuenca, C. Zamora. This visit comes after the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, on 19 December last year, for the implementation of a USD 25M credit, granted by the French Development Agency (AFD), in which the European Union acts as guarantor through the EFSD+ Financial Guarantee "Fast Cities", to finance and implement the "Programme for the Integral Management of Solid Waste and Green Areas of the Basin".

Cuenca thus becomes a pioneer city in Latin America and the Caribbean, being the first in the region where the European Union mobilizes the EFSD+ financial guarantee, an instrument that channels investments towards sustainable development projects. This mechanism, part of the Global Gateway strategy, opens up new opportunities for decentralized financing, without the need for sovereign guarantees. It is also part of the Team Europe initiative 'A Green Deal for Ecuador', which promotes the green transition and access to sustainable finance. In this regard, Director Gerretsen highlighted: "This project is a concrete example of how cooperation between the European Union, its Member States and local governments can generate innovative and sustainable solutions that directly impact people's quality of life and environmental protection".

Spotlight, a commitment to eradicate gender-based violence in Ecuador

The 'Women with Success' café, a space of the María Amor Foundation, welcomed Director Gerretsen along with the team of the EU Delegation and its implementers to share an emotional moment with women survivors of gender-based violence who, through this venture, have managed to build a decent working environment, allowing them to break the cycle of economic dependence with their aggressors. This activity, promoted by the Spotlight 2.0 Initiative, opened an important space for dialogue with key partners such as civil society organizations, universities and the Spotlight 2.0 National Reference Group with the aim of consolidating the support network for women in Cuenca.

A second moment included a tour of the city following the route of "Flowers in the Air", a path that seeks to raise awareness about gender violence through a narrative that highlights the places where women victims of femicide lived and shared their stories. The walk will culminate in the "Bridge Live We Want," an icon of feminist movements that not only pays homage to lost lives, but also represents a call to action to eradicate gender-based violence. "The names of each of the victims encourage us not to cease our collective efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls as a moral imperative and a fundamental step towards a more just and equal society," concluded Director Gerretsen.