The delegation cultivates both bilateral relations with parliamentarians from the countries, as well as with the Central American Parliament (Parlacen). Since the Central American Parliament held its inaugural session in 1991, the assembly has evolved to become the DCAM delegation's leading partner.
Chair and membership
The DCAM delegation is currently chaired by Tilly Metz, a Luxemburguese member of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance. She is supported by two vice-chairs: Javier Nart and Gens Gieseke.
The delegation counts 15 full members and an equal number of substitute members.
The chair and the vice-chair are elected by the other members of the delegation. All the members are drawn from the European Parliament's political groups, with the political makeup of the delegation mirroring that of Parliament as a whole.
Meetings and interests
The delegation holds regular meetings In Brussels and Strasbourg to discuss major political, social or economic events in the countries it covers, as well as relevant bilateral issues.
Delegation members have actively monitored the implementation of the EU-Central America Association Agreement. This agreement was signed on 29 June 2012, and its trade pillar has been provisionally applied since 2013.
Delegation members have also closely followed negotiations on the EU-Cuba Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement (PDCA), and will monitor its implementation once the agreement is ratified.
A future joint parliamentary committee
The delegation is currently working with Parlacen and the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica on setting up a joint parliamentary committee (JPC), as stipulated in Article 9 of the Association Agreement.
The committee will comprise two delegations with an equal number of members from the European Parliament and from Parlacen and the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica.
Travelling
Every year, MEPs from the DCAM delegation travel once to Central America. They also regularly receive visits from members of the region's national parliaments and from members of the Central American Parliament.
When the EU is invited by governments of the countries covered to observe local elections, DCAM members have participated in the European election observation teams.
Links with EuroLat and European Parliament committees
Many members of the DCAM delegation are also members of the EuroLat Parliamentary Assembly and meet their Central American counterparts during EuroLat activities.
The work of the DCAM delegation is coordinated with the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI), the Committee on Development (DEVE) and the Committee on International Trade (INTA).