EC/Chile relations: current state of relations

The committee adopted with some amendments the report by Mrs Miranda DE LAGE (PSE, E) on the communication from the Commission to the Council and European Parliament on the strengthening of relations between the European Union and Chile. The rapporteur welcomed the Commission's communication and endorsed the strategy designed to achieve the final objective of political and economic association between the European Union and Chile. This should be the result of the negotiation of a new agreement involving more intense political dialogue and greater cooperation on trade so as to pave the way for progressive and reciprocal liberalisation of trade. Political dialogue should be institutionalised through the agreement in parallel with the strengthening of economic and trade dialogue and the mechanisms for settling disputes. The new agreement with Chile should be accompanied by a substantial increase in financial aid to the country with the aim of promoting industrial and technological cooperation in sectors such as the environment, telecommunications and information technology. �