On Monday 22 January, the EU Council of Ministers decided to publish the mandate given to the Commission on 13 November 2017 to modernise the existing association agreement with Chile, concluded in 2002.
A Council press release states: “This is the first time that the Council has decided to make public the entire mandate for an association agreement covering political and trade aspects. It responds to calls for greater transparency and the need to better communicate the contents and the objectives of the negotiations”.
Cecilia Malmström, European Commissioner for Trade, commended the fact that: “This is a very welcome decision by the Council and unprecedented so early in the negotiations. Transparency is essential to inform citizens about our trade policy and build trust in what we do. Publishing the negotiating mandates should be part of this exercise. Trade negotiations must be conducted in a transparent and inclusive way, as it ultimately helps to deliver better trade agreements. This should be the standard approach for all future deals”.
After being launched mid-November 2017, negotiations for modernising the EU/Chile association agreement, which was concluded in 2002 and has been implemented since 2005, aim to deepen bilateral relations with regard to global challenges (climate change and sustainable development) as well as economic, social and environmental cooperation in a wide range of areas (see EUROPE 11907).
With regards trade, it is a matter of grafting modern, missing elements onto an agreement that has already shown its worth in the field of market access: investment, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights including geographic indications, and sustainable development, including gender equality and the promotion of greater autonomy for women.
“Good progress” was made on most of the chapters tabled during the second round of talks held in Santiago from 15 to 19 January, the Commission said on Monday. It also applauded the “overall level of preparation, engagement and ambition”. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)