Undersecretary presides over third round of negotiations for the modernization of the Chile-European Union Association Agreement

On June 21 and 22, the 3rd round of negotiations for the modernisation of the Chile-European Union Association Agreement and the meeting of the XV Association Committee, the body responsible for implementing the Agreement, took place in Brussels, Belgium.

The meetings were chaired by the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, Alfonso Silva, and the Executive Director for the Americas of the European External Action Service, Edita Hrdá.

Both sides acknowledged the fruitfulness of the exchanges carried out in the framework of this third round, concerning the political and cooperation pillar of the future agreement. During the event, issues of political dialogue and cooperation were discussed, ranging from the area of human rights, gender and security to various issues related to sustainable development.

They also included cooperation on education, culture, the elderly and the disabled, digital policy, business and industry and tourism, among others, and there was a high degree of convergence between Chile and the EU.

The parties agreed to continue this work in a forthcoming round to be held in Santiago during the second half of this year.

Meanwhile, the 15th Partnership Committee, together with reviewing progress on trade issues in the modernization of the Partnership Agreement and cooperation between the two parties in areas such as science and technology, the Pacific Alliance, ocean governance and human rights dialogue, paid particular attention to the exchange of views on regional and global issues of concern to both parties.

The XVI Association Committee will be held in Chile during 2019.

Read here the joint statement of the XV EU-Chile Association Committee