Brussels, 23/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - Following the failure of the EU-Andean Community Summit on the fringes of the EU-Latin America Summit in Vienna on 12 May (see EUROPE 9192), with the leaders of both sides postponing indefinitely the launch of talks over a bilateral Association Agreement, EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday that it would not be easy to conclude Association Agreement negotiations given the potential friction over the substance of the process and doubts about whether the Andean Community is actually united. Benita Ferrero-Waldner said she was happy with the outcome of the Vienna Summit, however, where following the departure of Venezuela from the group in April, EU politicians and the leaders of Bolivia, Colombia, Equator and Peru managed to strike a compromise to keep the talks going. She said she was happy that the EU's strategy to keep Bolivia on board was paying off, referring to uncertainty about whether the new Bolivian government under Evo Morales would want to participate in Association Agreement talks. The Commissioner added that the EU and the Andean Community now had to conclude the assessment of whether the Andean Community is ready to complete the regional integration process, following which they should draw up guidelines for the talks proper. Admitting that the regional association process in the Andes may take a bit longer than expected, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said she was rather sceptical about being able to sign an identical Association Agreement with the Andean Community as has been signed with Mexico and Chile. EU and Andean Community leaders in Vienna agreed to hold meetings before 20 July 2006 to clarify the situation and define the basis of the negotiations.