Former Andean Parliamentarian and former Ecuadorian Presidential candidate, Freddy Ehlers Zurita, is elected Secretary General of the Andean Community.  He takes office on February 1st. 

The Andean Community adopts Decision 659 confirming the broad liberalization of services in Andean territory and identifying the service sectors where sector rules and regulations will be harmonized, among them financial and professional services and radio and television services, for which rules were agreed upon to promote the participation of subregional investors.

The Andean Community – Chile Joint Commission is set up to take charge of defining the scope of Chile’s participation as an Associate Member Country in both the organs and institutions of the CAN and the mechanisms and measures of the Cartagena Agreement. 

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Andean Community and Mexico, meeting in Montevideo, sign an agreement to establish a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Mechanism on Matters of Mutual Interest that will enable them to strengthen historical bonds and intensify their cooperation in the political, economic, social and cultural areas.

The Andean Regional Program between the Spanish International Cooperation Agency (AECI) and the Andean Community is launched.  This program “reflects a shared vision between Spain and the CAN Member Countries of promoting cooperation for sustainable human development, social inclusion and the strengthening of democratic governance.”  

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers, meeting in enlarged session with the CAN Commission, formalizes Chile’s incorporation into the CAN by approving a Community Decision (Decision 645) that grants it the status of Associate Member Country.  It also sets up a Joint Commission to define the scope of Chile’s participation in the bodies, mechanisms and measures of the Cartagena Agreement.   

The Andean Community and Venezuela sign a Memorandum of Understanding through which they agree to maintain the trade advantages received and granted under the Andean Liberalization Program.    

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers, meeting in enlarged session with the Commission, approves Decision 633, making the number of judges of the Andean Community Court of Justice equal to the number of CAN Member Countries (4) and permitting the court to resume its normal operations.   

The Heads of State of the four Member Countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru), during the Special Meeting of the Council of Presidents held in Quito, reaffirm their “vocation for integration and firm intent to strengthen and consolidate the Andean Community and deepen their foreign relations,” considering the crisis created by Venezuela’s denouncement of the Cartagena Agreement to have been surmounted. 

Venezuela formally communicates its decision to denounce the Cartagena Agreement in a diplomatic note sent by that country’s Foreign Minister, Alí Rodríguez Araque, to the CAN General Secretariat.

Peru, for the first time, chooses its representatives to the Andean Parliament in direct, universal and secret elections. 

The Andean free trade area (ZLCA) is fully constituted and perfected with Peru’s completion of the tariff reduction process stipulated in Decision 414 and full incorporation into the ZLCA. 

The Andean Passport, created in July 2001 through Decision 504, enters into effect in Venezuela.

The Andean Community and the European Union bring the technical phase of the joint assessment of the regional integration process to a satisfactory conclusion.

The Andean Community General Secretariat (CAN) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) sign a Memorandum of Understanding in Rome.

The Andean Community General Secretariat (CAN) and the Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental (SDPA) (Peruvian Environmental Association) sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will make it possible to give the Andean countries the necessary instruments to prevent biopiracy or the illegal use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge.

The CAN Commission sets up a High-Level Ad-Hoc Group to work out the Andean Community’s tariff policy. 

The Commission, meeting in enlarged session with the Ministers of Agriculture, approves the establishment of a Rural Development and Agricultural Productivity Fund for the comprehensive and equitable promotion of rural areas, guaranteeing food security and the development of the agricultural sector.

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers approves the new Andean Alternative Development Strategy that reinforces the principle of shared responsibility and adopts an integral and sustainable approach.

Bolivia announces its decision to adhere to Community legislation that establishes common rules for the interconnection of the subregion’s electric systems and the exchange of electricity among Community Member Countries (Decision 536) that has been in effect since 2002 in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela.

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in enlarged session with the CAN Commission, by adopting Decision 613, grants Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay Associate Membership status in the Andean Community in response to a request put forward by these Mercosur Member States.

The Andean Advisory Council of Municipal Authorities is installed and the Mayor of Lima, Luis Castañeda Lossio, assumes the chairmanship.

The Technical Secretariats of the regional and subregional organizations of the South American Community of Nations agree to a joint working plan on the following matters: Trade Integration and economic complementarity, Infrastructure and decentralized development, the Environment, Energy Integration, Regional financing, Cohesion and Social Justice and Asymmetries.

The Andean Community (CAN) and the European Union (EU) launch the joint assessment of the Andean integration process, with a view to a future association between the two blocs that would include a Free Trade Agreement.

The Andean Community Commission approves a decision to protect and promote free competition in the Andean subregion in response to the requirements of the current stage of integrated trade opening and globalization.

During the meeting of the Mixed Andean-European Commission, in Brussels, the Andean Community and the European Union officially launch the joint evaluation of Andean integration.

The South American Community of Nations is created politically during the Third South American Presidential Summit, in Cusco.

Decision 603 is approved on the participation of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Decision 503, stipulating that as of January 1, 2005 tourists who are nationals of Andean Community Member Countries will not require a visa to enter Venezuela through the country’s international airports.

The Andean Regulation for the Control of Chemical Substances used in the Illegal Manufacture of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Decision 602) is approved.

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers approves Chile’s request to participate in the Andean Community as an Observer.

The General Secretariats of the Andean Community (CAN) and of the Central American Integration System (SICA) sign a Framework Cooperation Agreement to promote closer and more institutional links between the two integration processes.

The Integrated Social Development Plan (Decision 601) is approved that will permit the Andean countries to boost social development and confront poverty and social exclusion and inequality in the subregion as a Community.

The CAN-Mercosur agreements are formalized or deposited with ALADI during the course of the Twelfth Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of that organization.

Community legal provisions are approved that harmonize Excise type Taxes (Decision 600) and the Substantive and Procedural Aspects of Value Added type Taxes (Decision 599).

Decision 598 “Trade relations with third countries,” is approved for the purpose of maintaining Andean legislation in the relations among Andean Community Member Countries and having Community legislation prevail in relations with third countries.

The Guidelines of the Common Policy on External Security are approved that will make it possible to prevent and cope with security threats in a cooperative and coordinated way and, at the same time, develop and consolidate the Andean Peace Zone as a nuclear, chemical and biological weapon-free area.

An Andean Strategy to Prevent and Deal with Natural Disasters is adopted that will enable the CAN countries, together and in a systematic and planned way, to prevent and cope with the consequences of disasters.

A Working Program is approved for the gradual and progressive incorporation of integration subjects into school programs and materials in the Member Countries, with a view to promoting a culture of integration and strengthening the Andean cultural identity.

The Andean Council of Education Ministers and Persons Responsible for Cultural Policy (Decision 593), the Andean Council of Ministers of Social Development (Decision 592), the Andean Community Council of Ministers of the Environment and Sustainable Development (Decision 596) and the Andean Advisory Council of Municipal Authorities (Decision 585) are created.

Through Decision 578, the CAN Commission adopted a new common system to avoid double taxation and to prevent tax evasion in the Andean countries.

The Andean Community Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers decided to create the Andean Consulting Council of Municipal Authorities in order to encourage actions aimed at strengthening cities as players of the integration process.

Through Decision 580, the CAN Commission postponed until May 10, 2005, the coming into effect of the new Common External Tariff (AEC), stipulated in Decision 535 dated October 14, 2002, committing to expand the free trade zone during this time, and to continue the development towards an Andean Common Market.

The Ministers of Foreign Trade of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru presented a formal request to the Commercial Representative of the United States, Robert Zoellick, to include the Bolivian representation at the beginning of the trade negotiations of the three Andean countries with the United States, on May 18.

The Ministers of Transport and Public Works of the Andean Community approved, in Manta, Ecuador, the Common Policy on International Road Transport in the Andean Community, submitting it for consultation with the civil community.

The Secretary General of the Andean Community, Allan Wagner, announced the reactivation of the Andean Small and Medium-Size Enterprises System, in order to promote and develop this very large sector.

The Andean Community General Secretariat officially launched the Project for the Support of Trade Negotiations (PANC) by Andean Countries, on the occasion of the visit of the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Enrique Iglesias, to the Andean organization.

Ambassador Allan Wagner Tizón officially took over as Secretary General of the Andean Community (CAN) for a period of five years, in a special ceremony attended by the President of Peru, Alejandro Toledo, where he proposed the preparation of a new Strategic Design for Andean integration, entitled "Globalization through Integration".

The Andean Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers in an extended meeting with the Regular Representatives before the Andean Community Commission, accepted the resignation of the Secretary General, Guillermo Fernández de Soto, as from December 31, 2003.

In Quito, the Andean Community and the European Union completed with success the negotiations of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between both regions, which will be used as basis for the next negotiation of an Association Agreement incorporating a Free Trade Agreement.

The General Secretariat of the Andean Community (CAN) and the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) executed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in matters such as biodiversity, climatic changes and conservation of natural resources, among others.

The Andean Community and the Andrés Bello Agreement entered into a Cooperation Agreement in order to strengthen their mutual cooperation in matters of common interest related to education, culture, science and technology, leading to the creation of the Andean identity and the integration of the peoples of the subregion countries.

 The Andean Community and Mercosur Foreign Ministers, during a meeting in Montevideo at which the CAN delivered a working proposal containing guidelines for the negotiation, reaffirm their governments’ political determination to move ahead with the negotiation of a free trade agreement between the two blocs.

The CAN Presidents, meeting in their Fourteenth Summit in Quirama, Colombia, endorse the new strategic course for the integration process leading toward a second generation of policies, based on accumulated strengths.

The CAN Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, during the Fourteenth Andean Presidential Summit, approve Community provisions that attribute maximum priority to the social dimension for the next few years and create the necessary conditions for the formation of the Common Market.

The Andean Community and the European Union launch the negotiation of a new Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement that should lay the groundwork for the signing of an “Association Agreement” in the future.

The Andean countries, during the course of the meeting of the CAN Commission, put the finishing touches to the agreements needed for the Common External Tariff, thus enabling them to jointly report the existence of a large percentage of intracommunity trade to the FTAA.

The Sucre Protocol enters into effect, introducing major amendments into the existing text of the Cartagena Agreement and establishing new mechanisms that will make it possible to enhance integration in the new areas of Community endeavor.

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers decides that the time has come to notify the World Trade Organization (WTO) that the Andean Community operates as a Customs Union.

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers unanimously approves the General Secretariat initiative of taking subregional integration in a new direction.

Ecuador and Colombia are interlinked electrically, in the first step toward the electric integration of the five Andean countries.

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy and the Treasury, Foreign Trade and Agriculture approve the new Common External Tariff for 62% of the tariff universe and establish the criteria for negotiating the remaining 38%. The CET is adopted through Decision 535.

In the framework of the II South American Summit of Heads of State, the presidents of the CAN adopt the Andean Charter for the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, and sign a Declaration whereby they impart instructions to consolidate the links of political, economic, and commercial association and cooperation with the American hemisphere, the European Union, Asia-Pacific, and other areas of common external projection.

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers approves the setting up of the Working Committee on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a consultative level of the Andean Integration System (SAI); the Regional Strategy on Biodiversity for the Tropical Andean Countries, and the Work Plan for Disseminating information on Andean Integration; as well as the creation of the Andean Committee for Disaster Prevention and Care, among other community norms.

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers,  in an extended meeting with the Commission, elects “Mr. Guillermo Fernández de Soto as Secretary General of the Andean Community, for a period of five years from the date on which he takes office.”

The Andean Council of Foreign Ministers and the CAN Commission, meeting in enlarged session, approve a timetable of activities and take substantive steps to ensure the definition of the Common External Tariff by mid-October 2002, with a view to strengthening the integration process and negotiations with third countries.

The CAN Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Defense approve the Andean Charter for Peace and Security that lays down the principles and commitments for formulating a Community policy on security in the subregion, establishing a peace zone, regional efforts in the war against terrorism and the limitation of foreign defense spending, controlling conventional weapons and transparency.

A Special Andean Presidential Council Meeting is held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra - Bolivia, at which the leaders adopt a series of guidelines on the free trade area, the customs union, common agricultural policy, macroeconomic policy harmonization, the Common Foreign Policy and the social and political agenda.

The European Union Council approves the new Regulations (Law) on the implementation of a generalized system of tariff preferences for the period January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2004, including the preferences for the Andean Subregion known as the Andean GSP.

The Andean Community Commission through Decision 510 adopts an "Inventory of Measures Restricting Trade in Services," which constitutes an important step towards this sector’s progressive liberalization.

The Governments of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela approve the Protocol of Substitution of the Simón Rodríguez Convention, which will come into force once all the member countries have completed their ratification process.

During the course of their Thirteenth Council, the Andean Presidents approve the Andean Cooperation Plan for the Control of Illegal Drugs and Related Offenses (Decision 505) and Community provisions to facilitate the free circulation of people (Decisions 503 and 504) and to promote border development (Decisions 501 and 502), among other things.

Representatives of MERCOSUR and of the Andean Community (CAN) meet in Asunción, Paraguay, to resume negotiations for the creation of a Free Trade Area between the two blocks.

The CAN Commission approves, through Decision 486, a new Common System on Intellectual Property Rights and stipulates that it will come into effect on December 1, 2000.

Meeting of the South American Presidents, at which the Andean Community Heads of State and Mercosur decide to launch negotiations for establishing a free trade area between the two blocs as rapidly as possible and by January 2002, at the latest.

Entry into force of the Partial Economic Complementation Accord between the Governments of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela, member countries of the Andean Community, and the Government of Argentina, which had been signed on June 29th, 2000.

The Andean Foreign Ministers finish signing the Additional Protocol to the Cartagena Agreement, "Andean Community Commitment to Democracy," which will enter into force when the respective congresses approve it and the appropriate instruments of ratification are deposited with the CAN General Secretariat.

The XII Summit Meeting of the Andean Presidential Council is held, at which the Andean leaders sign a political declaration and the Act of Lima with two attachments (Attachment 1: Indicative actions for the formation of the Andean Common Market and Attachment 2: 2000-2001 Action Program for the establishment of the Common Market).