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  1. Negotiations

EU-CAN

The European Union and the Andean Community (Comunidad Andina de Naciones or CAN) have been working towards a bilateral trade and investment pact since 1993, when they first signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement. In Rome in 2003, ten years later, they signed a joint commitment to formally enter into an Association Agreement, “including a Free Trade Agreement (FTA).” This was reaffirmed at the highest political level in Guadalajara in 2004. In May 2006, both sides agreed to initiate the negotiating process as soon as possible. The Andean Community is composed of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. (Venezuela withdrew in 2006.)

In April 2007, the EU adopted its negotiating mandate for the process. The draft is available

Bolivia for sovereignty in EU talks
18-Sep-2007     Prensa Latina
The Bolivian Deputy Minister of Economic Relations and Foreign Trade Pablo Guzman said that his country will demand sovereignty of natural resources, public services and intellectual property in its negotiations with the European Union.
CAN, EU begin talks toward free trade and association
18-Sep-2007     People's Daily
Negotiators from the four CAN nations -- Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia -- and from the EU will meet all week in Bogota to talk about goals, procedures, timetables and negotiation terms.
Venezuela opposes free trade agreement between CAN and European Union
23-Jun-2007     VHeadline
Chavez warns CAN to reject a free-trade agreement with the European Union (EU) as unacceptable in the present circumstances. The Bolivian President has told Chavez that he agrees and cannot accept the free-trade agreement with the EU.
Bolivia intent on commercial suicide?
19-Jun-2007     Open veins
The Bolivian government is committing “commercial suicide,” said the Bolivian chamber of exporters, saying it was “one of the most unfortunate steps in the recent history of integration.” Yet all the Bolivian Government had done was explain that, in negotiations for an Association Agreement with the European Union, it was not prepared to negotiate away State control on issues of intellectual property, state purchases or procurement, international arbitration of investments and public services.
Bolivia offers compromise at trade summit
14-Jun-2007    
Bolivia's willingness to bend its anti-globalization stance allowed Andean leaders work out a common stand on a trade deal with the European Union at a summit here Thursday.
Ecuador to mediate Andes for EU deal
9-Jun-2007    
Ecuadorian chancellor, Maria Fernanda Espinosa affirmed that her country will mediate differences within the Andean Community of Nations (CAN) prior to the upcoming summit.
Declaration of Andean and Latin American social movements on the EU-CAN Association Agreement
5-Jun-2007     Movimiento Boliviano por la Soberanía y la Integración solidaria de los pueblos: Contra el TLC y el ALCA
The movements and social organizations of Bolivia, countries of the Andean region and of Latin America feel deeply concerned about the consequences that an Association Agreement between the Community of Andean Nations (CAN) and the European Union (EU) could have for our peoples, which in its trade component includes a Free Trade Agreement, very similar to the FTAA (ALCA) that we buried only recently.
EU to start negotiations for Association Agreement with the Andean Community
23-Apr-2007     EUROPA
The EU and the Andean Community announced yesterday in Santo Domingo their intention to start negotiations for an Association Agreement in the margins of the next EU-Andean Community Joint Committee that will be held in La Paz at the end of May 2007.
CAN and EU: Negotiations to Start Soon
7-Mar-2007     Prensa Latina
The Community of Andean Nations and the European Union reaffirmed the promise Tuesday to begin negotiations as soon as possible to sign an economic association agreement, the CAN press office reported after meeting on Monday evening.
Baseline positions of Bolivian Government for association agreement with the EU
15-Jun-2006     Movimiento Boliviano de lucha contra el TLC y el ALCA
If the CAN countries work out their differences, including establishment of a common tariff, EU-CAN talks could get under way in January 2007, and the association agreement, which includes political, economic, and trade chapters, would come online in May 2008.