Uruguay and the European Union
The institutional framework of the relationship was established with the signing of the EU–Uruguay Framework Cooperation Agreement (1992), which created regular mechanisms for political dialogue and technical cooperation. Since then, the European Union has consolidated its position as one of Uruguay’s principal strategic partners.
In the trade sphere, the European Union has consistently ranked as Uruguay’s third-largest trading partner, receiving a significant and stable share of national exports, typically ranging between 12% and 15% of the country’s total exports. By way of reference, in 2025 Uruguay’s goods exports reached USD 13.493 billion, of which USD 1.835 billion were destined for the European market, representing approximately 13.6% of total exports.
In terms of investment, countries of the European Union constitute the largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Uruguay, accounting for more than 40% of the accumulated stock of foreign direct investment, with a presence in several strategic sectors of the national economy.
Beyond economic ties, the relationship between Uruguay and the European Union is also supported by deep human and cultural links, derived from a shared history of migration, intellectual exchange, and educational cooperation. Uruguay and the EU likewise share a commitment to a rules-based international order, the preservation of the multilateral system, and the pursuit of cooperative solutions to contemporary global challenges.
Uruguay remains firmly committed to strengthening its relationship with the European Union. Evidence of this commitment is the signing, on 17 January 2026 in Asunción, of two legal instruments between MERCOSUR and the EU: the Association Agreement (EMPA) and the Interim Trade Agreement (ITA). Uruguay ratified the ITA through Law No. 20.462 and, on 27 February 2026, notified Paraguay, in its capacity as depositary of the agreement, that the internal procedures required for its entry into force had been completed. Uruguay also communicated to the European Union on 6 March its consent to the provisional application of the agreement.