<div dir="ltr">From: <div><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Yacine Khelladi</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">External advisor to the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Operations Unit (B2) of the General Directorate of International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission - Latin America and Caribbean Digital Advisory Services (D-LACAD)</span><br></div><div><br></div><div><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Dear Colleagues</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">On behalf of the Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Operations Unit (B2) of the Directorate General for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) of the European Commission, *we invite you to participate in a _virtual meeting for the LAC civil society organizations (CSOs)_*in preparation for the upcoming *EU-LAC Digital Alliance* <<a href="https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/global-gateway/eu-latin-america-and-caribbean-digital-alliance_en">https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/global-gateway/eu-latin-america-and-caribbean-digital-alliance_en</a>>*high-level policy dialogu*e *_on cybersecurity_* .</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">That policy dialogue will take place in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in mid-February 2024 with the objective of agreeing on a specific two-year action plan to achieve the cybersecurity objectives agreed last November in the dialogue Cartagena <<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/d4dhub.eu/news/eu-lac-digital-alliance-partners-agree-on-joint-areas-of-collaboration-towards-2025-summit__;!!DOxrgLBm!D-GgQVioB5qlgOCjQ1irByaEtzu9bzfXqE-zCFGHwsgJ5SqFhtZLtovdQ8vnesO452xdMhRLXdOzHJs5e1GDdYOl7mA$">https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/d4dhub.eu/news/eu-lac-digital-alliance-partners-agree-on-joint-areas-of-collaboration-towards-2025-summit__;!!DOxrgLBm!D-GgQVioB5qlgOCjQ1irByaEtzu9bzfXqE-zCFGHwsgJ5SqFhtZLtovdQ8vnesO452xdMhRLXdOzHJs5e1GDdYOl7mA$</a>>(in which some 15 LAC CSOs participated in person) (See attached an operational summary of the conclusions of said event).</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">The active participation of the*Civil Society **Organizations o*f Latin America and the Caribbean in this process is key and that is why we organize*two virtual preparatory meetings* to present the process and learn about your*perspectives, priorities, concerns and proposals *on this topic, before the in-person event of February.</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">* one in *_English on Tuesday the 23rd_*_from January 2024_ at 16:00 UTC (5 pm</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">in Brussels, 1pm in AR, BR and CL, 12pm in DR, 11 am COL, 10 AM in CR and MX)</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">* one in *_Spanish on Monday the 22nd_*_from January 2024_ at 16:00 UTC (5 pm</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">in Brussels, 1pm in AR, BR and CL, 12pm in DR, 11 am COL, 10 AM in CR and MX)</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Pleaseregister here for one of these. <<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/forms.gle/9Nk4oCLUSdRydBP66__;!!DOxrgLBm!D-GgQVioB5qlgOCjQ1irByaEtzu9bzfXqE-zCFGHwsgJ5SqFhtZLtovdQ8vnesO452xdMhRLXdOzHJs5e1GD4SOUOU8$">https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/forms.gle/9Nk4oCLUSdRydBP66__;!!DOxrgLBm!D-GgQVioB5qlgOCjQ1irByaEtzu9bzfXqE-zCFGHwsgJ5SqFhtZLtovdQ8vnesO452xdMhRLXdOzHJs5e1GD4SOUOU8$</a>>And feel free to share this invite to relevant Caribbean CSOs</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">TheEU-LAC Digital Alliance <<a href="https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/global-gateway/eu-latin-america-and-caribbean-digital-alliance_en">https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/global-gateway/eu-latin-america-and-caribbean-digital-alliance_en</a>>__seeks to increase collaboration between LAC and EU countries, the harmonization of policies and regulations to accelerate a sustainable and inclusive digital transformation process and build a strong, comprehensive and mutually beneficial alliance. <<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/d4dhub.eu/es/news/eu-and-lac-leaders-endorse-the-eu-lac-digital-alliance-joint-declaration__;!!DOxrgLBm!D-GgQVioB5qlgOCjQ1irByaEtzu9bzfXqE-zCFGHwsgJ5SqFhtZLtovdQ8vnesO452xdMhRLXdOzHJs5e1GDn-7WMOo$">https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/d4dhub.eu/es/news/eu-and-lac-leaders-endorse-the-eu-lac-digital-alliance-joint-declaration__;!!DOxrgLBm!D-GgQVioB5qlgOCjQ1irByaEtzu9bzfXqE-zCFGHwsgJ5SqFhtZLtovdQ8vnesO452xdMhRLXdOzHJs5e1GDn-7WMOo$</a>>It also aims to establish or improve bi-regional mechanisms of*coordination and governance for digitalization,* based on *common values and interests *asagreed by the heads of state in July 2023 <<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_23_3892">https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_23_3892</a>></span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">I remain attentive to any questions or concerns about this process, and I hope that LAC CSOs take advantage of this opportunity to influence digital policies in the region.</span><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><br style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;outline:none"><span style="color:rgb(29,34,40);font-family:Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">Yacine Khelladi</span><br clear="all"><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">--</span></div><div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix"></span>For your information and guidance <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Lance Hinds <br>Vice Chair </div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">LACRALO<br> <br><br><br>This message contains information that may be privileged and/or confidential and is the property of BrainStreet Technologies or BrainStreet Learning. The information contained herein is intended only for the individual or entity to whom it is addressed and others authorized to receive it . If you are not the intended recipient, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy, disseminate, distribute, or take  any action in reliance to the contents of this information or any part thereof and it may be unlawful to do so. If you receive this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete all copies of this message from your system. BrainStreet Technologies or BrainStreet Learning are neither liable for the proper and complete transmission of the information contained in this communication nor any delay in its receipt.</div></div></div>