Renate Weber, on behalf of the ALDE Group. – Madam President, the Commission’s approach to negotiations with Latin America has always been a ‘region-to-region’ approach. Nevertheless, so far none of the agreements have been concluded. The Association Agreement with the Andean Community has failed and instead tomorrow we will approve, I am convinced, a Multi-Party Agreement with Colombia and Peru.

At the same time, the negotiations with Mercosur are rather hectic and unpredictable due to a number of things, including the versatile membership of Mercosur, which means that the Association Agreement we are discussing today with Central America is the first concluded by the EU after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. More importantly, it is the first comprehensive partnership between the regions which marks the result of the parties’ unbending political will.

This Association Agreement contains three main pillars – political dialogue, cooperation and trade – thus marking a decisive step forwards in the integration of Central America and going far beyond mere questions of free trade. It is, at the minimum, the starting point for a coherent and holistic approach towards cooperation between the parties. Otherwise, can we sincerely believe that the EU, particularly now in these times of economic and social crisis within its own territory, would conclude Association or Partnership Agreements with each and every country in Central America? Of course I am aware of the asymmetries which exist between the two regions and among the Central American countries, and I am conscious of the efforts to be made in order to generate greater synergies between both regions, but I also truly hope that this agreement will bring benefits to all parties and boost integration on a regional, social, economic and cultural level.