Negotiating mandate for an association agreement with Chile

The committee adopted the own-initiative report by Ignacio SALAFRANCA SÁNCHEZ-NEYRA (EPP-ED, E) containing its recommendation on the negotiating mandate for the association agreement with Chile. The report said that the legal basis for the agreement should be Article 310 of the EC Treaty, requiring the assent of the European Parliament. It also stressed the importance of respect for human rights and labour law, saying that the negotiating guidelines should be based on international principles and conventions. In addition, it was essential for there to be a political dialogue involving civil society. Lastly, the committee said that the conclusion of the agreement should not be made conditional upon the completion of the WTO trade round.�