EU-Central America - Conclusion of New Political Dialogue and Co-operation Agreement

On Wednesday 1 October the EU and Central America successfully concluded the second and final round of negotiations for a new Political Dialogue and Co-operation Agreement. The agreed text will be initialled on 2 October at 17:00h in Brussels by Mr Eneko Landaburu, European Commission Director General for External Relations, and the Ministers of External Relations of Panama Mr Harmodio Arias Cerjack and Nicaragua Mr Norman Caldera, and the Viceministers of External Relations of Costa Rica Mr Marco Vinicio Vargas, Guatemala Mr Alfredo Trinidad, Honduras Mr Anibal E. Quiñónez and El Salvador Mr Roberto Interiano. A press conference is foreseen at 17:30h (Charlemagne building).

The new Agreement stems from the decision taken by Heads of State and Government at the Madrid EU-Latin America and Caribbean Summit in 2002. The main aim of the Agreement is to strengthen relations and co-operation between the regions as well as to foster regional integration among Central American countries. This Agreement will pave the way for a future Association Agreement, including a Free Trade Agreement, when certain conditions permit.

The conclusion of this Agreement in just two negotiating rounds is a significant achievement and testifies to the political priority given by both sides, whose negotiating teams were headed by Mr. Francisco da Camara Gomes, Director for Latin America of Directorate-General for External Relations, for the Commission, and Panamanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Harmodio Arias Cerjack, in his capacity as current holder of the rotating presidency of the Central American Integration System (SICA).

The new Agreement will formalise the San Jose Dialogue process, which was launched in 1984 and forms the cornerstone of relations between the EU and Central America. This dialogue was instrumental in bringing about peace and restoring democracy in the region in the early 1990s.

Historically, the EU has granted significant levels of development aid to Central America, averaging some €145 million per annum over the past seven years. This co-operation has focused on human rights and democracy, integrated rural development, disaster prevention and reconstruction, social development and regional integration. In addition to upgrading political dialogue, the new Agreement will expand current co-operation to areas, including migration, counter-terrorism and new economic co-operation.


For more information:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/ca/index.htm

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