EFE Agency
Quito, April 25, 2008

The Third Round of Negotiations of an Association Agreement between the Andean Community (CAN) and the European Union (EU) came to an end today in Quito, with evidence of the existence of asymmetries between the two blocs, which are interested in sealing the agreement "as soon as possible."

Over one hundred Andean and European negotiators met this week in the Ecuadorian capital for an exchange of offers and positions regarding the three pillars they expect to uphold the Agreement: Political dialogue, Cooperation and Trade.

Colombian Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, Camilo Reyes, in closing the Third Round, pointed up the advances made at the meetings of the negotiating committees and stated that despite the will of the two blocs to move ahead, the task is not an easy one.

The CAN-EU negotiation involves 31 countries, four of them Andean and 27, European, noted Reyes, after insisting that “the negotiation is not an easy one and no one can predict what will happen” in the future, although the aim is to seal the agreement during the second half of next year.

Reyes, who is currently occupying the pro tempore Presidency of the Andean Group, admitted that asymmetries or differences can be found not only between the two blocs, but also within the Andean Community itself, where Bolivia and Ecuador are at odds with Colombia and Peru.

Reyes stated that insofar as the conflict between Ecuador and Colombia is concerned, these differences were surmounted in the Third Round with the EU and all of the CAN countries are working to “reach an Association Agreement” with the European Union."

The deputy negotiator for the EU, Spanish citizen Rafael Gelabert, indicated that despite the existence of differences among some of the CAN countries, a positive attitude toward moving the negotiations ahead and “overcoming these temporary problems” was the hallmark of the Quito Round."

Gelabert went on to state that the two parties are working toward a rapid and satisfactory agreement, but added that “speed cannot be allowed to replace the substance” of the agreement.

Ecuador’s head negotiator, Méntor Villagómez, for his part, announced that that next round of CAN-EU negotiations will be held from July 7 to 11 in Brussels.

He explained that, in addition, a “mini round” will take place this coming June, in order to move ahead with the chapters on Services, Investments, Intellectual Property and Trade and Sustainable Development. EFE