Brussels, 13/10/2003 (Agence Europe) - This week the European Union and the Andean Community are expected to conclude a second round of negotiations for a new Political Dialogue and Co-operation Agreement between the EU and the Andean Community takes place in Quito (Ecuador) from 13 to 15 October. . The new EU-CAN Agreement replaces the agreement in force since 1993 and provides a new contractual framework for the political dialogue, focus it more on the concerns of both regions (such as security, regional development and stability, conflict prevention and resolution, human rights, democracy, good governance, terrorism, migration and drugs). The decision to negotiate this agreement was taken at the Madrid European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit in 2002.
A similar agreement has just been initialled with Central American countries. Like the latter, Andean countries at first wanted to conclude a free trade agreement with the EU on the agreement models signed with Mexico and Chile and currently being negotiated with Mercosur. Community aid to the Andean Community, averaging some €130 million per annum and focuses on human rights and democracy, regional integration, integrated rural and social development.