Source: EFE news agency
Brussels, January 21, 2005

The European Union and the Andean Community (CAN) agreed today to officially launch a joint evaluation of the degree of economic integration attained in the Andean region, with a view toward subsequently opening free trade negotiations.

The Mixed Andean-European Commission, meeting in Brussels, decided to form a technical group that over the next few months will study the operation of the region’s institutional system, the free movement of goods throughout the region, the possible existence of non-tariff barriers, and the adjustment of its customs union.

European Commission (EC) officials and government representatives from the Andean countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela) will comprise the group, which will hold its first meeting around March or April in Lima.

The CAN hopes to start and conclude its free trade negotiations with the EU before the next European Union-Latin America and Caribbean Summit, scheduled to take place in Vienna in May 2006.

The European Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferreno-Waldner, was “highly pleased to see the first step be taken today toward establishing a complete association agreement between the EU and the Andean Community.”

"Much remains to be done, but I trust that the process will evolve very favorably if we keep our minds on the forthcoming summit (EU-Latin America)."

The Andean Delegation belonging to the mixed commission consists of the region’s Vice-Ministers of Trade and Foreign Affairs under the chairmanship of Peruvian Vice-Minister of Trade, Pablo de la Flor, whose country presently occupies the rotating Andean Community Presidency.

CAN Secretary General Allan Wagner, who met this week in Brussels with Ferrero-Waldner, and the European Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, also participated in the meeting.

In addition, the meeting of the Mixed Commission enabled the parties to agree to renew the Generalized System of Trade Preferences applied by the EU to the Andean and other developing countries and to address issues associated with development cooperation. EFE