EU and CAN decide to start process leading to an Association Agreement

Lima, May 12, 2006.- The Andean Community and the European Union decided today in Vienna to start a process in 2006 leading to the negotiation of an Association Agreement that would include a political dialogue, cooperation programs and a trade agreement.  That agreement was reflected in the Vienna Declaration of the Fourth European Union – Latin America and the Caribbean Summit. 

The text, which appears in article 31 of that Declaration, reads as follows: 

"Recalling the common strategic objective established in the Declaration of Guadalajara, we welcome the decision adopted by the EU and the Andean Community to initiate during 2006, a process leading to the negotiation of an Association Agreement which will include political dialogue, cooperation programmes and a trade agreement. 

To this end, the Andean Community and the EU agree to hold all necessary meetings prior to 20 July 2006, to clarify and define the bases of the negotiation which would allow for the full and beneficial participation of the parties."

The meeting between the Andean Community and the “European troika" (Austria, Finland and the European Commission) is scheduled for Saturday and, according to Vienna, it will be a closed meeting.