Lima, December 15, 2003. Today, in Rome, the Andean Community and the European Union signed a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement which represents a significant step forward in their relationship, as was pointed out by Guillermo Fernández de Soto, Secretary General of CAN.

Fernández de Soto indicated that “this new Agreement represents a step forward of great significance since it involves a well-structured dialogue in several fronts and increases cooperation in new areas which are of vital importance for the Andean subregion, such as peace and security, social and political stability, democratic governance, trade cooperation and migrations”.

He pointed out that “this Agreement stands out as a sound foundation for starting the negotiations of the respective association agreement, to be started in 2004, involving a free trade area, which is particularly urgent at a time in which the benefits generated from the tariff preferences granted to the Andean countries through SGP Droga, in recognition of the principle of joint responsibility in fighting against the worldwide problem of illegal drugs, could be impaired, and the implementation of the work schedule agreed in Doha may probably not be completed within the established terms.”

Finally, he emphasized that this qualitative step forward in the relationship between CAN and EU “will certainly require to deal in greater depth with the topic of subregional integration”. In this sense, he pointed out that “the Andean countries are obliged to continue with this task”.