EC/Andean Community agreement: political dialogue and cooperation agreement

PURPOSE : two proposals for the signature and conclusion respectively of a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the EC and its Member States and the Andean Community and its member countries, the Republics of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. PROPOSED ACT : Council Decision. CONTENT : the EU and the Andean Community enjoy a comprehensive relationship that encompasses political dialogue based on the Rome Declaration of1996, a broad cooperation framework and a favourable trade regime (GSP drugs). Cooperation with the Andean Community is currently carried out in the context of the 1993 Framework Cooperation Agreement. Historically, this cooperation has focused on human rights and democracy, integrated rural development, social development and regional integration. At the European Union-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit held in Madrid on 16/17 May 2002, the Heads of State and Government of the EU and the Andean Community and its member countries decided to negotiate a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the two regions. The text of the Agreement was initialled by the negotiators of both sides on 14/15 October 2003. The new EU-Andean Community Agreement focuses solely on political dialogue and cooperation and does not contain a trade component. The main objectives of the Agreement are to: - strengthen EU-Andean Community relations by developing political dialogue and reinforcing cooperation, and - create the conditions under which, building on the outcome of the Doha Work Programme, a feasible and mutually beneficial Association Agreement, including a free trade agreement, could be negotiated between the parties. The new Agreement institutionalises and strengthens the political Dialogue based until now on an informal arrangement known as the Rome Declaration (1996) and broadens cooperation to include new areas such as human rights, conflict prevention, migration as well as the fight against drugs and terrorism. Special emphasis is placed on cooperation in support of the process of regional integration in the Andean Community. The Agreement builds upon and will replace the existing 1993 Framework Cooperation Agreement between the two regions as well as the Rome Declaration when it comes into effect after ratification by both parties. The Commission has judged the results of the negotiations to be satisfactory and requests the Council: - to authorise the signature, on behalf of the EC of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement; and - to conclude the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement. The European Parliament will be called upon to give its opinion on this agreement. The Member States are also Parties to the Agreement, which therefore needs to be approved by them according to their internal procedures.�