Brussels, 24/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - As decided by the Heads of State and Government during the EU-Latin America Summit in Guadalajara in May 2004, a joint committee last Friday in Brussels composed of the European Commission and the countries of the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) officially planned for a joint assessment of regional economic integration in the Andean Community, which should result in the opening of negotiations with a view to a future association agreement for an integrated free trade area. The assessment is to be conducted by a working group that will hold its first meeting in Lima, Peru, in March or April
During this eighth meeting of the EU-Andean Community mixed committee, the delegations also held an exchange of views on relations between the Andean Community and its Member States with the third world and the other regional blocs, mainly the South American Community of nations created in December 2004, as well as on negotiations under way between certain Andean countries and the United States with a view to the signing of bilateral free exchange agreements. Both parties discussed economic and trade issues, mainly the new generalised system of preferences (GSP). They spoke of social cohesion, with special reference to the Andean plan for integrated social development adopted by the foreign ministers of the Andean Community countries in September 2004.
The joint committee is expected to meet again in Venezuela during the second half of 2005 to analyse the results of the new working group. “I am pleased to see that a new step has been taken with a view to concluding a true association agreement between the EU and the Andean Community”, External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner commented. The next EU-Latin America summit is to be held in 2006, in Vienna.