Decision 666
Participation of the Republic of Chile, as an Associate Member Country, in Andean Community bodies, mechanisms and measures 

       THE ENLARGED MEETING OF THE ANDEAN COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS AND THE REPRESENTATIVES TO THE ANDEAN COMMUNITY COMMISSION,  

       HAVING SEEN: Articles 136 and 137 of the Cartagena Agreement and Decision 645; and 

       WHEREAS: The Enlarged Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers with the Andean Community Commission, through Decision 645 of September 20, 2006, granted the Republic of Chile the status of Associate Member Country, in keeping with the stipulations of Articles 136 and 137 of the Cartagena Agreement; 

       Decision 645 established the mandate to form a Mixed Commission to, within a period of 180 days after it is set up, determine which Cartagena Agreement bodies, mechanisms and measures the Republic of Chile would participate in; 

       The first meeting of the Mixed Commission of the Andean Community Member Countries and the Republic of Chile was held on December 8, 2008 and in an act of that same date the High-Level Ad-hoc Technical Working Group was created to submit to the Mixed Commission its recommendations on the participation of the Republic of Chile, as an Associate Member Country, in matters of its interest in the various Andean Community (CAN) bodies and institutions;    

       High-level officials of the Chilean Foreign Ministry and officials of the Andean Community General Secretariat met in Lima and in Santiago on January 26 and March 25, 2007, respectively, to examine the development of issues identified at the First Meeting of the CAN-Chile Mixed Commission; 

       Chile’s association with the CAN bolsters the progressive regional integration process in which MERCOSUR, Guyana and Suriname also participate, with a view to contributing to more equitable, harmonious and comprehensive South American development; 

       It is necessary to define the scope of Chile’s association with the Andean Community, in keeping with the stipulations of Decision 645, Article 3;  

DECIDES: 

       Article 1.- Objectives. The objective of this Decision is to determine the bodies, mechanisms and measures in which the Republic of Chile shall participate as an Associate Member Country of the Andean Community and the legal provisions to be applied in the relations between Member Countries and Chile.  

       Article 2.- Sphere of Application. The Andean Community Member Countries and the Republic of Chile, as an Associate Member Country, may arrange at any time, within the framework of the Mixed Commission established through Decision 645, to include in the CAN-Chile bilateral relations, the study and development of any matters they deem pertinent.  The following have been identified at present as matters of reciprocal interest: 

a.        Inclusive human and social development

Undertake the analysis of instruments to support less endowed social sectors.  Examine and exchange experiences with successful programs and mechanisms used in the Andean countries and in Chile, among other countries, with regard to social protection, social programs for vulnerable families and programs to promote micro-undertakings, among other issues.   

b.        Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs)

Exchange experiences in promoting or supporting CAN Member Country and Chilean MSMEs, with emphasis on programs and instruments to facilitate their internationalization, in order to create self-sustaining enterprises.   

c.        Educational promotion

Exchange experiences and develop instruments to promote educational quality by drawing primarily on the provisions of the Andrés Bello Convention, to which the Andean Community Member Countries and Chile are Parties. 

d.        Health

Continue the joint efforts to improve health conditions and better the quality of life of the inhabitants of the Andean region, within the framework of the priorities of the Andean Health Body, the Hipólito Unanue Convention.  Likewise, exchange experiences that could contribute to the development of the national health systems in spheres to be duly identified. Also, learn further from Andean experiences in applying an intercultural approach to health.   

e.        Energy

Examine, within the framework of South American energy integration efforts, possibilities for boosting the complementarity of the different energy sources in the region.  

f.          Promoting cooperation for trade and investment

Strengthen cooperation in trade and investment matters, with special emphasis on the economic, scientific and technological areas, with a view to incentivating competitiveness and innovation in the States Parties by building strategic alliances between the public and private sectors. 

g.        Coordination vis-à-vis the Asia-Pacific region

Explore possible areas for joint or coordinated development of trade, investment, research and education, taking advantage of the experience and opportunities offered by the dynamic Asian, Australian and New Zealand economies. 

h.        Exchanges to deepen CAN relations with the European Union

Share experiences regarding the Parties’ relations with the European Union. 

i.          Environment and sustainable development

Cooperate in programs and projects on the Andean environmental agenda that are of common interest, particularly matters relating to climate change, biodiversity, water resources and disaster prevention. 

j.          Boosting development-oriented science and technology

Encourage and support economic, research, and science and technology cooperation projects that will help reach the Millennium Development Goals by strengthening links among research and science and technology centers in the States Parties. In this context, examine mechanisms for stimulating business culture and spirit among young researchers and fostering their coordination with the production sector. 

k.        Connectivity

Support the CAN’s integrationist connectivity initiatives in the spheres of infrastructure, transportation and information technologies, in keeping with initiatives that are underway in South America. 

l.          Economic and social cooperation in the areas foreseen in Chapter XVI of the Cartagena Agreement

Explore the undertaking of joint programs and actions in the economic and social cooperation areas indicated in the Cartagena Agreement, as well as exchange mutual experiences that will enhance the capacities of the Countries in those areas.   

m.      Democracy and Human Rights

Further joint programs in areas that will permit the development of the instruments referred to in Article 4 of this Decision.   

       Article 3.- Areas for Collaboration.  CAN and the Republic of Chile, in order to gradually develop among the Parties the subject matters referred to in the previous Article, establish the following specific working areas:   

a.   Economic and social cooperation mechanisms provided for in Chapter XVI of the Cartagena Agreement, particularly those envisaged in Articles 121 to 131, to wit:

-  External actions on matters of common interest foreseen in this Decision.

-  Cooperation programs in the areas of scientific and technological development and the incentivation of technological innovation that will improve competitiveness in the different production sectors. 

-  Joint environmental actions, particularly those provided for in the Andean Environmental Agenda.

-  Programs of joint cooperation and the exchange of experiences aimed at the accomplishment of the development and social inclusion objectives of the Andean people, particularly those envisaged in the framework of the Integral Plan for Social Development (PIDS).

-  Programs with grass-roots participation

-  Programs of support and promotion for Member Country MSMEs

b.   Connectivity Policy

c.   Andean Cooperation Plan for the Control of Illegal Drugs and Related Offenses. 

d.   Andean legal provisions for the control of chemical substances. 

e.   Andean Integral and Sustainable Alternative Development Strategy. 

f.    Andean Plan to Prevent, Fight and Eradicate Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its aspects

g.    Judicial, legal and police cooperation

h.    Migratory Policy. 

       Article 4.- Financial contributions.  The Member Countries and the Republic of Chile, with the assistance of the General Secretariat, shall define and assume, where appropriate and in keeping with their legal systems, the financial contributions that will eventually be required for the implementation of the programs and projects stemming from this Decision. 

       Article 5.- Democracy and Human Rights.  The Andean Community Member Countries agree to open to the accession of the Republic of Chile the Additional Protocol to the Cartagena Agreement “Andean Community Commitment to Democracy” and the Andean Charter for the Promotion and Protection of Human rights, together with the working program for their dissemination and execution. 

       The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers, in order to guarantee the full application of these instruments between the Parties, shall, in due time, issue a Decision to regulate the participation of Chile and of any other countries that accede to these instruments.   

       Article 6.- Institutional system. The Republic of Chile shall be invited to participate, with a right to be heard, at regular and special meetings of the bodies and institutions of the Andean Integration system, so that it can develop relations with Member Countries on the matters and areas for work referred to in this Decision.  Where appropriate, it shall participate in the following ones:  

a.  Andean Council of Presidents

b.  Andean Council of Foreign Ministers

c.  Andean Community Commission

d.  Andean Council of Ombudsmen (Decision 590)

e.  Cooperation among Attorney Generals (Decision 589).

f.  Executive Committee of the Common Foreign Policy (Decision 587)

g.  Executive Committee of the Andean Cooperation Plan for the Control of Illegal Drugs and Related Offenses (Decision 505)

h.  Technical Subcommittee on Chemical Substances (Decision 602).

i.   Andean Committee for Alternative Development - CADA (Decision 549).

j.   The institutional mechanisms referred to in Decision 552.

k.  Andean Council on Science and Technology (Decision 213).

l.   Andean Council of Environmental Authorities - CAAAM (Decision 435)

m.  Andean Committee of Telecommunications Authorities  - CAATEL (Decision 462)

n.   Andean Committee of Immigration Authorities (Decision 545)

o.   Andean Committee of Social Security Authorities - CAASS (Decision 583)

p.   Andean Committee of Land Transportation Authorities (Decision 434)

q.   Subregional Committee on Small and Medium Enterprise (Decision 209)

r.    Andean Council of Ministers of Social Development (Decision 592).

s.   Andean Council of Ministers of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Decision 596).

t.   Andean Council of Ministers of Education and Cultural Policy Officers (Decision 593).

u.  Executive Committee of the Andean Border Region Health Plan (Decision 541)

v.   Advisory Council of Labor Ministers (Twelfth Meeting of the Andean Council of Presidents)

w.  Andean Committee on Occupational Safety and Health

x.   Working Committee on Indigenous Peoples’ Rights (Decision 524)

y.   Andean Working Committee on the Promotion and Protection of Consumer Rights (Decision 539) 

       Article 7.- Official announcements of meetings.  The agendas for meetings of the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers, the Commission and other bodies, groups and institutions belonging to the Andean Integration System, which deal with the matters referred to in this Decision shall specify in advance the points on which the Republic of Chile, as an Associate Member Country of the Andean Community, may participate.  In that way, the Republic of Chile shall be convened to meetings where appropriate. 

       The participation of the Republic of Chile in the various meetings of the bodies, councils, committees, etc. of the Andean Integration System shall be channeled through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   

       Article 8.- Adoption of Agreements. Where commitments are made or special agreements reached between the Parties, these may be adopted in the form of Additional Protocols to the bilateral agreements already in effect between Chile and Andean Community Member Countries, as appropriate.  Furthermore, the competent institutions of each of the Countries involved in the working areas specified in this Decision may implement the projects and programs they decide upon through interinstitutional agreements made in keeping with their legal authority.   Where appropriate, Andean Community Member Countries may formalize, through a Decision, agreements reached with the Republic of Chile in applying this Decision.   

       Article 9.- Mixed Commission.  The Mixed Commission created through Decision 645 shall meet at least once a year to evaluate the application of this Decision and to deepen its scope.    

       The Mixed Commission may be convened by any of the Member Countries or by the Republic of Chile and shall meet on the date and in the place agreed, with the technical support of the Andean Community General Secretariat.   

       Article 10.- Settlement of differences.  Should any difference arise with the Republic of Chile over the interpretation and/or application of this Decision or of the obligations stemming from it, these matters shall be resolved through direct consultation within the Mixed Commission.    

       Article 11.- Trade relations. Unless otherwise agreed by the CAN Member Countries and Chile or stipulated in Article 8 of this Decision, the trade relations existing between the Parties shall continue to be regulated by the stipulations of the Economic Complementarity Agreements signed by Member Countries and the Republic of Chile within the framework of the 1980 Treaty of Montevideo.    

       Article 12.- Effective date.  Signed in the city of Lima, Peru, on the eighth of June of two thousand and seven.