EU-Chile Association Council: Joint Communiqué
IV EU-Chile Association Council; Prague, 14 May 2009
Joint Communiqué
1. The fourth meeting of the Association Council established by the EU-Chile Association Agreement was held in Prague on 14 May 2009.
2. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Mr. Jan Kohout, as President of the EU Council. The Chilean delegation was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mariano Fernández Amunátegui. The Commission was represented by the Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
3. The Ministers took note of the reflections held in late 2008 to mark the five years during which the EU-Chile Association Agreement has been in force, noting both the seminar held on 28 November and the 6th meeting of the Association Committee held on 18 December. The Ministers endorsed the conclusion of these reflections, namely that the Association Agreement is the central axis of the EU-Chile relationship and has proved to be an essential tool for intensifying and dynamising bilateral relations at all levels across a wide spectrum of shared interests and areas of mutual endeavour.
4. In this context, the Ministers welcomed the fact that the first EU-Chile dialogue on human rights had been held in Santiago on 21 April and noted with satisfaction that further dialogues on human rights would take place in New York and Geneva. The Parties concurred that such dialogues were valuable not only insofar as they permitted constructive exchanges of views and experience on important human rights concerns in both regions, but also because they contributed to enhancing coordination and cooperation between the EU and Chile in multilateral fora. The EU welcomed recent legislative progress in Chile of relevance to the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court. Chile said the ratification process will be concluded in the very near future.
5. The Ministers also noted that the potential of the Association Agreement for enhancing and deepening bilateral relations can be exploited still further. Both Parties agreed to work together to identify and develop hitherto unexploited aspects of the Agreement which could build on the achievements of the first five years it had been in force, with a particular emphasis on enhancing bilateral relations between the citizens and civil society organisations of the EU and Chile.
6. Recalling the decision of the third meeting of the Association Council to work together in order to find the best ways to reinforce the political dialogue between the EU and Chile and make it even more effective, the Ministers recalled the proposal made by President Bachelet during the EU-Chile Summit in Lima in May 2008 to establish with the EU an Association for Development. Noting the discussions and consultations between the EU and Chile which had taken place on this matter since then, the Ministers agreed to work speedily towards the establishment of an EU-Chile Association for Development and Innovation. The Parties agreed that the principal objective of this Association will be to build on and develop further the excellent bilateral relations in the framework of the EU-Chile Association Agreement by promoting policies and specific activities to stimulate economic growth and social cohesion in Chile and in Latin America in general.
7. The Ministers agreed that the bi-regional aspects of the Association for Development and Innovation can best be intensified by identifying and giving priority to those issues which are of critical interest to Latin America in respect of which the EU can offer relevant experience and know-how thus helping to promote bi-regional initiatives which favour development and innovation. In this context, the Ministers agreed that initial efforts to take forward the Association for Development and Innovation should be focused on two specific areas which meet these criteria, namely Education and Energy; while innovation should be considered as a cross-cutting theme in these and any future areas in which the Association would be implemented. The Parties decided to establish a road map which will set out the actions to be undertaken for and through the Association for Development and Innovation between now and the Vth EU-Chile Summit.
8. The Ministers exchanged views and information concerning the global financial and economic crisis, its impact in each region and on EU-Chile relations, and the steps being taken to mitigate the impact. The Parties agreed that every effort should be made to coordinate these measures, to avoid resorting to protectionism and to safeguard the progress achieved in the framework of the EU-Chile Association Agreement. The Ministers also called for the regulation and oversight of the financial markets to increase financial stability. They expressed their willingness to intensify the fight against uncooperative jurisdictions, including tax havens. They also called for the swift implementation of the increase of the resources of the international financial institutions, notably the IMF, which is critical to ensure an appropriate support to countries facing a financing gap, including developing countries.
9. The Ministers discussed developments in Europe, notably the prospects for European integration once the Lisbon Treaty has been ratified. The Ministers discussed the current state of play in the various schemes of regional integration in Latin America and welcomed the important advances which had been achieved in the consolidation of UNASUR under the Chilean presidency. Noting that effective regional integration offers tangible confirmation of improved understanding and solidarity between nations and their citizens, the Ministers confirmed their commitment to work together to prepare the VIth EU-LAC Summit, to be held in Spain in spring 2010.
10. The Ministers noted with satisfaction that the impact of bilateral cooperation to date has been positive. The European Commission provided information on the state of implementation of cooperation programmes in the framework of the Country Strategy Paper 2007-2013; and on the Mid-Term Review being undertaken in 2009-2010. The Ministers noted that the Mid-Term Review provided a well-timed opportunity to establish clear links between the cooperation priorities and the Association for Development and Innovation.
11. The Ministers took note of the satisfactory progress achieved in the implementation of the EU-Chile Science and Technology Agreement confirmed most recently at the 4th meeting of the Science and Technology Steering Committee held in Brussels on 24 April 2009. The Parties concurred that this Agreement provides scope for enhanced cooperation in the framework of the Association for Development and Innovation and agreed to explore how this scope could be fully exploited.
12. The Ministers took stock of the achievements and development of the Trade part of the Association Agreement, more than six years after its entry into force. They noted with satisfaction that bilateral trade flows have almost tripled during this period and that the European Union is the first trade partner and investor in Chile.
13. The Ministers invited the negotiators to make the best effort in order to reach a balanced agreement on further liberalization on trade in goods and services, including movement of natural persons within the framework of the evolution clauses of the trade pillar of the Association Agreement.
14. The Ministers noted with satisfaction the proper functioning of the Special Committees established under the Trade Part of the Association Agreement. They also noted with satisfaction that the second EU-Chile dialogue on Intellectual Property Rights, had allowed both parties to exchange their views and address their respective concerns on IPR protection and enforcement in a constructive manner. They agreed to continue cooperating in this area.
15. The EU and Chile remain committed to reaching an ambitious, balanced and comprehensive conclusion to the Doha Development Round, which is urgently needed. To achieve this, the EU and Chile are committed to building on the progress already made, including with regard to modalities. Both sides will give renewed focus and political attention to this critical issue in the coming period and will use their continuing work and all international meetings that are relevant to drive progress.
The Parties agreed that every effort should be made to boost trade flows and avoid resorting to protectionism.
16. The Ministers further agreed on the importance of reaching an ambitious, fair, effective and global agreed outcome for the post-2012 regime, at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.
17. The Ministers exchanged views on other bilateral issues that have the potential to enhance mutual relations. The EU underlined the economic, technical and social advantages to Chile of a decision to adopt the European TV standard. Chile reported about the internal evaluation process that is underway and the current parliamentary process of legislation on digital television, which will provide the necessary framework for the decision taken by Chile in this area. Chile informed of steps being taken in order to allow the EIB to operate in the country as foreseen in the Association Agreement. Furthermore, Chile stressed the relevance of the EIB to help to implement the objectives of the Association for Development and Innovation. The EU welcomed the steps being taken by Chile to enable the European Investment Bank to operate in the country, underlining the Bank´s potential contribution to mitigating the impact of the global economic crisis, furthering sustainable development and tackling climate change.
18. Chile acknowledged the support received in the accession process to the OECD, based on longstanding cooperation and fundamental values and principles, such as democracy, the rule of law, human rights, good governance, sustainable development and a market-based economy, shared by both the EU and Chile. The Ministers reiterated their support to the multilateral strengthening of these values and principles and to the enlargement of the OECD.
19. Finally, the Ministers agreed that the V meeting of the Association Council would take place in 2011.
Contact:
- Jiří Beneš, press department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
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Attached Files
- Joint Communiqué (in spanish) (pdf, 19 kB)
Last update: 16.8.2011 15:21
