The delegation of MEPs that visited Chile last week received positive signals to move forward with the modernisation of the EU-Chile Association Agreement.
Eight members of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) met with members of the new Chilean government, civil society organisations and trade unions between 23 and 25 May. All these stakeholders were satisfied with the content of the agreement, according to Margarida Marques (S&D, Portugal).
“The (Chilean) ministers find that the objectives of the agreement are consistent with their own”, she told EUROPE after the visit. However, the Chilean government is keen to analyse the agreement in its entirety so as not to rush the ratification of a text negotiated under the former government.
According to Margarida Marques, Chile could ratify the Association Agreement with the EU in November, if it first succeeds in getting the new constitution approved in the September referendum.
The Chilean Under-Secretary for International Economic Relations, José Miguel Ahumada, will visit Brussels from 17 to 21 June.
In the European Parliament, the different political groups are satisfied with the content of the agreement. “The modernisation of the agreement will bring an innovative approach to our relations, such as a dedicated gender chapter to facilitate the participation of women, a sustainable development chapter, a sustainable food chapter, an SMEs chapter”, said Samira Rafaela (Renew Europe, The Netherlands). (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)