[{"bbox": [97, 153, 1134, 203], "category": "Text", "text": "following the cyber-attacks and subsequent national emergency and 2) support to Costa Rica's strategy to **secure resilient healthcare solutions** and **new investments in the biomedical sector**."}, {"bbox": [97, 235, 1134, 314], "category": "Text", "text": "The **technical support component (component 3)** foresees specialised technical assistance and flexible mechanisms to effectively apply EU tools and financial instruments, strengthen capacities of stakeholders to benefit from them, leverage additional investments, and strengthen the policy dialogue."}, {"bbox": [97, 344, 1134, 397], "category": "Text", "text": "The **strategic communication component (component 4)** seeks to measurably increase awareness, understanding and perception of the EU priorities, in particular Global Gateway."}, {"bbox": [97, 427, 1134, 559], "category": "Text", "text": "For this Cooperation Facility to deliver its full potential, it is to be complemented by other financial resources and cooperation programmes. Instruments such as the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) provide entry points for further leverage through blending, guarantees and bonds. The Facility is also expected to be complemented by additional funds and technical assistance under global and regional initiatives, including but not limited to the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, EUROCLIMA+ and the regional programme on inclusive societies."}, {"bbox": [97, 588, 1134, 695], "category": "Text", "text": "The action will contribute to the realisation of the EU Gender Action Plan 2021-2025 GAP III, in particular to its thematic area of engagement “Addressing the challenges and harnessing the opportunities offered by the green transition and the digital transformation, Digitalisation, Climate change and environment” and “Promoting economic and social rights and empowering girls and women”."}, {"bbox": [85, 750, 323, 780], "category": "Section-header", "text": "# 2 RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [85, 815, 234, 841], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.1 Context"}, {"bbox": [97, 862, 517, 888], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### General context and EU political priorities"}, {"bbox": [97, 917, 1134, 1235], "category": "Text", "text": "Despite its small size, Costa Rica (CR) is a strategic partner for the EU in Latin America and the Caribbean. It holds **clear comparative advantages to become the EU's prime partner for the implementation of the Global Gateway strategy, and to attract new European investments to Central America.** Politically, CR is the most stable country in the region and a longstanding advocate of multilateralism, strongly aligned with EU values and interests. It is the EU's main trading partner in Central America, accounting for one third of total trade flows. Its strategic position, longstanding investment in human capital and social welfare state based on the European model have made the country remarkably successful in attracting foreign direct investment, in particular into advanced manufacturing and high tech sectors. A **world leader on decarbonisation, conservation and biodiversity, and an unconditional ally on the European Green Deal,** equally make the country a key target for EU climate policies. Moreover, according to the Country Level Implementation Plan (2021-2025), the National Women's Institute for Costa Rica calls for **digitalisation, innovation and climate change as essential topics for the coming years of work on gender issues** in Costa Rica."}, {"bbox": [97, 1264, 1134, 1367], "category": "Text", "text": "The country's strategic importance for Global Gateway, its investment potential and the EU's climate and biodiversity ambitions with Costa Rica justify a **renewed bilateral engagement,** following the phase out during the 2014-2020 cycle. The current Technical Cooperation Facility is one of the instruments of the EU toolbox to this end."}, {"bbox": [97, 1400, 1134, 1638], "category": "Text", "text": "For the Facility to deliver its full potential, **it is to be complemented by other financial resources and cooperation tools.** Instruments such as the European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) provide entry points for further leverage through blending, guarantees and green bonds. With its comparatively stable investment climate, Costa Rica holds a solid EFSD+ potential, in particular for private sector investments in digital, green and high tech solutions that increase productivity and put Costa Rica at the forefront of innovation and a zero carbon economy. Due to its green country brand and its institutional solidity, the country is also of interest to the European development banks. AFD consolidated a green loan portfolio of EUR 465 million since it entered Costa Rica in 2019, and EIB aims to structure new investments following earlier successful programmes. In addition, the Facility is expected to be complemented by additional funds and technical assistance under global or"}, {"bbox": [1038, 1681, 1143, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 15"}]