Friday
Friday 25th July 2025.
July 24, 2025
The European Union (EU) Delegation in Panama categorically denied that the suspension of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America with respect to Panama is being considered.
In an official statement, the EU reiterated that it is not considering any suspension of the agreement with Panama and, on the contrary, remains firm in its commitment to cooperation with the country and the Central American region.
“ The European Commission, together with the Member States, always carefully assesses the different instruments at its disposal to ensure that actions are appropriate and proportionate ,” the Delegation stated.
The clarification from the European Union delegation comes in the wake of the visit to Panama by French MEP Marina Mesure , of the left-wing Insumisa party.
Mesure stated that due to the Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development’s decision to request the dissolution of the Suntracs union, the European Union is considering excluding Panama from agreements with that bloc of countries. He also rejected the persecution of the union movement.
The EU delegation denied any intention to exclude Panama and emphasized that the Association Agreement between the European Union and Central America, which fully entered into force on May 1, 2024, has shown significant progress in recent weeks.
They report that the first Association Council meeting between the EU and the six Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama) was held in Brussels on July 14, marking a milestone in strengthening bi-regional relations.
Key topics such as global geopolitical challenges, international conflicts, and common agendas for cooperation, investment, and trade were addressed during the meeting.
Furthermore, on July 21, the constitutive meeting of the EU-Central America Parliamentary Association Committee was held in San José, Costa Rica, bringing together MEPs and representatives of the Central American Parliament (Parlacen) and the Costa Rican Legislative Assembly. This new body seeks to facilitate structured and transparent parliamentary dialogue, strengthening the democratic monitoring of the bi-regional agreement.
On Thursday, July 24, the Comptroller General’s Office submitted 12 new reports to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, as part of the various audits the agency is conducting in various municipal councils nationwide.
In a statement, the Comptroller’s Office stated that the reports, corresponding to boards located in the interior of the country, reveal alleged irregularities amounting to an estimated $4.5 million.
With this new submission, 25 boards have now been audited, accumulating an economic impact of more than $13 million between 2019 and 2024, specifically during the administration of former President Laurentino Cortizo.
Comptroller General Anel Flores has stated that audits are carried out with “objectivity, technical rigor, and without exceptions.”
Likewise, he assured that he will continue submitting reports in the coming days, so that the “Public Prosecutor’s Office can determine the corresponding criminal or administrative responsibilities” in the cases detected.
According to preliminary estimates, the total amount of potential property damage could reach $43 million once the inspection of the first block is completed.
The alleged irregularities arose from the so-called “parallel decentralization” of the Cortizo government.
Regarding this program, authorities claim that millions of dollars in funds from the National Decentralization Authority were distributed based on political criteria.
Most of those millions went to community councils and municipalities controlled by authorities close to influential deputies from the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) , the group that governed the country for the past five years.
On the morning of Thursday, July 24, Attorney General Luis Carlos Gómez presented two bills seeking to toughen penalties for crimes against public administration, especially acts of corruption related to the management of public property.
During his appearance before the Assembly, Gómez emphasized that corruption is a “cancer that corrodes the foundations of the rule of law and erodes citizens’ trust” in the management of state resources.
He argued that corruption has a “devastating” impact, perpetuating inequality that demonstrates institutional weakness in the prosecution of these crimes.
The first project consists of a General Anti-Corruption Law and the reform of certain articles of the Penal Code, to establish a legal framework that closes the loopholes that allow corruption to flourish and evade criminal prosecution.
The project includes the adoption of new investigative techniques to combat crime infiltrating public administration.
The second bill focuses on increasing penalties for crimes that currently carry paltry penalties and can be subject to a very short statute of limitations.
The goal is to proportionally punish cases of crimes such as influence peddling, bribery, and corruption.
A Polish citizen was arrested this Thursday, July 24, in the town of San Francisco. He is allegedly linked to a drug trafficking organization .
A National Police report details that, in coordination with the Panama Interpol office, this individual was arrested, who is listed as the alleged leader of this network that traffics drugs from the Americas to Europe.
The man was reportedly arrested near a shopping center in this area of the Panamanian capital , and upon verification, it was confirmed that he has an Interpol red alert.
According to the investigation, “this Polish citizen had entered the country before his red notice was issued, after being linked to the shipment of drugs hidden in commercial wine shipments, using sea and land routes to Europe,” the police reported.
Panamanian authorities are taking the necessary steps following Interpol’s request.
The Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (Mitradel) promoted a total of 85 new employment opportunities through targeted recruitment programs focused on inclusion, as part of a strategic alliance with the private sector.
The available positions included general assistants, cashiers, and food handlers, specifically for people over 45; sales assistants, warehouse assistants, and receptionists, focused on people with disabilities; and customer service agents, for bilingual staff.
The vacancies were offered by companies such as Papa John’s, Foundever, Grupo David, Carbone, Nestlé, and others, in different areas of the national economy.
To date, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITRADEL) reported that it has offered more than 9,372 employment opportunities through inclusive targeted recruitment, benefiting 299 people with disabilities, as part of a public policy that seeks to promote equitable development for all Panamanians.
To achieve concrete results, the agency also provides job placement through the portal www.empleospanama.gob.pa, where companies register their job openings, which are open to all audiences, and suitable profiles are matched through a streamlined and transparent process.
Emanuel Gómez, head of Labor Intermediation at the Ministry of Labor, stated that the job search continues to be more humane, providing all Panamanians with the opportunity to access real employment to support their families. He also thanked companies for being the main generators of employment in the country and for trusting in the labor intermediation service, which is the way to find the qualified personnel they need.
Having a passport can mean freedom to cross borders or, conversely, become a barrier when it requires a visa and other immigration requirements.
The latest Henley Passport Index report , based on exclusive data from Timatic and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), updates the global rankings this month, highlighting which documents allow for the most travel without a visa or other prior authorization.
Asia continues to lead the list. Singapore holds the top spot, with visa-free access to 193 of the 227 possible destinations.
Japan and South Korea now share second place, with free entry to 190 countries each, consolidating Asia’s dominance in the standings.
In third place, with 189 destinations , are several European nations: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Finland, Ireland, and Denmark . Following in fourth place with 188 destinations are Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and Luxembourg .
The only non-European country in this group is New Zealand , which comes in fifth place alongside Greece and Switzerland with visa-free entry to 187 destinations .
The rest of the Top 10
- 6th : United Kingdom (186 destinations)
- 7th : Australia, Czechia, Hungary, Malta, Poland and Canada (185 destinations)
- 8th : United Arab Emirates, Estonia, Croatia (184 destinations)
- 9th : Latvia, Slovakia and Slovenia (183 destinations)
- 10th : Iceland, Lithuania and the United States (182 destinations)
The most notable case is that of the United Arab Emirates , which has climbed 34 positions in the last decade , going from 42nd to 8th, the largest increase recorded in that period.
In contrast, the United States and the United Kingdom have continued their decline. Both have dropped one place since the last publication in January. Despite having held the top spot in 2014 (United States) and 2015 (United Kingdom), they are now outside the Top 5.
Panama improves its position and rises to 28th in the ranking , with visa-free access to 148 destinations . This is the second time the country has reached this position; the previous time was in 2014 .
This advancement reinforces the value of the Panamanian passport in terms of mobility and international recognition.
Regarding its cost, the document costs $100 for Panamanian citizens, including minors and naturalized citizens. Retirees pay $50 , while diplomatic and consular passports are exempt.