Brussels, 19/11/2002 (Agence Europe) - Monday evening the European Union praised itself for having singed its most ambitious agreement to date with Chile, while noting that it could be difficult to go as far with other Latin American countries (see yesterday's EUROPE page 10). The Association Agreement is the "most ambitious and extensive ever signed by the Union" with the countries of the region, according to the Council President Per Stig Moeller. "The commercial art is the most innovative and ambitious" that the EU has ever concluded with one of these countries, stressed the Commissioner for trade, Pascal Lamy, remarking that this "raised enormous curiosity" among third countries. It is a question of "a model of agreement that we would like to sign" with other Latin American countries, but "will not be easy to sign such an innovative and ambitious, and we shall have at times to be happy with less", recognised the Commissioner for external relations, Chris Patten. The Commission is currently negotiating an agreement with Mercosur (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.16).
"Extremely satisfied", Chilean Minister Mara Soledad Alvear, said that for Chile it was the "most ambitious" agreement ever signed with a partner. She thought it was a "strong signal" for the rest of Latin America, and proof of the importance of relations between the two regions. This agreement is also for Chile "a good instrument to channel globalisation", she said.
The agreement was signed for the Community by Per Stig Moeller and Chris Patten, for Member States by their Foreign Ministers or Ambassadors, for Chile by Foreign Minister Mara Soldead Alvear.