The Chiefs of State of the Member Countries meeting within the framework of the Sixteenth Andean Council of Presidents reflected on the integration process in which the Republics of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela are engaged, and convinced on the need to advance the Andean integration process, extending it beyond a commercial integration by giving it a social emphasis, agreed as follows:

1. To adopt before the end of the year, in a special meeting of the Andean Council of Presidents following a previous Andean Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers in an extended meeting with the Andean Community Commission, a common tariff policy which, incorporating a Common External Tariff with flexibility and convergence criteria among the five countries, will contribute to improve the single Andean market and facilitate joint negotiations with third countries.

2. To adopt the necessary measures for establishing an Andean energy alliance, including the Venezuelan proposal for creating PetroAndina, as a cooperation mechanism for encouraging an electric power and gas interconnection, the mutual supply of energy resources and joint investments in exploration, development and industrialization projects; including also the development of alternative sources of energy. To that effect, as soon as possible, a meeting of the Andean Council of Energy Ministers will be held in Caracas for preparing a decision for consideration at the aforementioned meeting of the Andean Council of Presidents.

3. To define a strategy for the preservation and sustainable use of the existing water resources and biodiversity in the Andean region. In this context, science and technology will be encouraged through the creation of an Andean Network of national biodiversity research institutes and the development of patents for protecting the Andean biogenetic heritage and the establishment of a genetic data bank.

4. To agree on the recognition and acceptance of education certificates and professional titles within the Andean Community. The Andean Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers meeting with the Ministers of Education and with the support of the General Secretariat of the Andean Community will define a proposal to be presented at the Ordinary Meeting of the Andean Council of Presidents.

5. To agree on a new community legislation for solving issues associated with international road transport and consolidating the extended Andean market, including the establishment of binational border attention centers and advancing in the air interconnection of the region.

6. To reaffirm the political commitment for ensuring the free transit of Andean citizens between the Member Countries and to put into effect an Andean Passport no later than by December 31 of this year.

7. To implement a Social Humanitarian Fund constituted within the framework of this Andean Summit, with the financial support of the Andean Development Corporation, and no later than by the aforementioned special meeting of the Andean Council of Presidents. The General Secretariat of the Andean Community will be responisble for preparing the respective feasibility study.

8. To ensure through reports to the General Secretariat the implementation of a permanent joint evaluation on the progress of our countries in the fulfillment of the Millennium Goals.

9. To support the initiative of the Andean Parliament for the establishment of an Andean Community – MERCOSUR Cultural Center that will contribute to promoting a common South American identity.

10. To support the proposal of the Andean Business and Labor Consulting Councils for creating an Economic and Social Council within the framework of the Andean Integration System.