Andean Community survived in 2006, doubtful prospects for 2007
FreshPlaza | January 9 2007
Andean Community survived in 2006, doubtful prospects for 2007
Jahir Lombana
Tholen — The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales and the elected President from Ecuador, Rafael Correa, confirmed that their countries would continue as full members of the Andean Community (CAN). However, they state that strong changes are necessary to consolidate a social as well as an economic integration. At the political scope, Morales and Correa are committed to convince Hugo Chavez to return Venezuela to the Andean Community. However, the strong differences of Venezuela with the trade policies from Colombia and Peru are extremely difficult to overcome. Colombia and Peru are dealing free trade agreements with the U.S. which Venezuelan government radically opposes.
Alfredo Fuentes, General Secretary at the Andean Community, sees more positive prospects for 2007. He summarizes the main achievements of the CAN. Last year, the CAN and the EU finished the formal agenda to negotiate an association agreement and Chile returned as an associated member. According to Fuentes there is a clear convergence with the MERCOSUR to conform a South American Community of Nations and without the cooperation of the member countries the extension of the U.S. unilateral preferences would not be possible.
The priorities of the first semester of 2007 will be neither economic integration nor trade. The recently interests on the social issues and the environmental protection will presumably cover the CAN agenda, at least, of the first quarter of 2007.
