Launch of the negotiations of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Andean Community (CAN), 6-8 May 2003, Brussels

On 6 May 2003, Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, opened the first round of negotiations of a new Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and the Andean Community (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela).

The new EU-CAN Agreement on political dialogue and cooperation aimed to formalise and strengthen the political dialogue by putting it on a contractual basis and focusing it more on the concerns of both regions (such as security, regional development and stability, conflict prevention and resolution, human rights, democracy, good governance, terrorism, migration and drugs) and intensifying exchanges at working level. Its provisions on cooperation endeavour to widen the scope of the bi-regional relationship and support the Andean Community's regional integration process which comprises economic, political and social cooperation.

• Primary Source

EU: EEAS: Andean Community and the European Union https://eeas.europa.eu/diplomatic-network/andean-community_en

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