Strasbourg, 20/11/2008 (Agence Europe) - Colombian Deputy President Francisco Santos Calderón says he supports bilateral trade negotiations between his country and the European Union. External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner recently raised this as a possibility, with negotiations between the EU and the Andean Community of Nations (CAN - Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) being deadlocked.
“We have been trying to negotiate bloc to bloc for two years, but Ecuador and Bolivia don't want it,” Santos Calderón told EUROPE during his visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Colombia and Peru tried to bring greater flexibility to the negotiating procedures by suggesting bloc to bloc talks initially, but with varying speeds according to each of the countries, then discussions with the EU on one element at a time (either the trade, political or cooperation chapter), he said on Thursday 20 November. “We have been very accommodating,” but no agreement could be reached, so it was “very frustrating for us and the EU,” he went on. “A door has opened,” and we “are ready,” he said. As to whether bilateral talks could spell the end of the CAN (see EUROPE 9784) as the chairman of the EP international trade committee Helmut Markov (GUE/NGL, Germany) seems to fear, Santos Calderón was unequivocal. “No, we need each other”. He also said that he was willing to return to a regional approach to negotiations if Quito and La Paz “want to ride the bus”. (A.B./transl.rt)