The permanent consultation body between the civil societies of Chile and Europe, the EU/Chile Joint Consulting Committee, on Wednesday 8 November pledged its support for the talks to update the EU/Chile association agreement, to start in mid-November. In a 15-point declaration, however, it calls for extra measures in order to achieve the sustainable development objectives.
At its second meeting, this body, which is made up of representatives of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Chilean civil society organisations, called for a more inclusive share-out of the advantages of trade, increased transparency and a reinforced contribution from civil society in the framework of the update of the EU/Chile association agreements.
The EU/Chile Joint Consultative Committee also called for the updated agreement to include a specific chapter on SMEs and micro-enterprises and stressed the importance of the mobility of knowledge between the two partners, in terms of innovation and breathing new life into the economy.
The Committee calls upon the EU and Chile to adopt a cross-cutting approach to implementing the UN sustainable development goals up to 2030 and to promote decent work and environmental protection in the framework of a “strong and ambitious” 'sustainable development' chapter.
On Monday 13 November, the Council of Ministers of the EU adopted the negotiation mandate proposed by the Commission to update the EU/Chile association agreement of 2002.
The first round of talks is scheduled to launch in Brussels on 16 November, with a second series to open in Santiago early in 2018 (see EUROPE 11903). (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)