Lima, May 27, 2005.- The Foreign Ministers of the countries of the Andean Community and the European Union ratified that the signing of an Association Agreement between the two blocs, which will include a free trade agreement, continues to be a shared strategic objective.

In a joint communiqué released after the close of the meeting held in Luxemburg between the CAN and the European Union Troika, the Ministers declared that the CAN-EU Ad Hoc Group must first complete the joint evaluation of the regional integration process before the close of the year so that the results can be discussed at a new meeting of the Mixed Andean-European Commission.

In this connection, the Andean Foreign Ministers expressed their hope of being able to start negotiating the Association Agreement at the Vienna Summit to be held in May 2006.

The Ministers also declared that the countries’ political, economic and social development is essential for promoting security, peace and stability in the context of globalization.

They underscored the need to expedite the prompt execution of the programs and projects provided for in the Andean Community’s Integrated Social Development Plan (PIDS) in order to help meet Millennium Targets.

They further reaffirmed that in putting the principle of shared responsibility into practice, it is necessary to deepen the mechanisms for cooperation in fighting the worldwide drug problem and, at the same time, to design and implement alternative development policies and strategies to meet our countries’ needs.

In regard to migration, the two parties agreed to maintain a frank and open dialogue for the purpose of reinforcing its benefits, particularly for the development of the migrants’ countries of origin. They went on to stress the importance of addressing trafficking in migrants and the slave trade by formulating appropriate policies on the subject.

Also present as a participant at the CAN-EU Ministerial Meeting was Andean Community Secretary General, Ambassador Allan Wagner Tizón.