The European Union (EU) will pursue a free trade agreement with Peru and Colombia despite reservations from Bolivia and Ecuador, it said Friday.
The EU decision was announced by the French
ambassador to Peru, Cecile Pozzo di Borgo, who affirmed that the EU had
agreed on the issue in Brussels, Belgium.
“The negotiation had to continue
with the countries that were ready to move ahead,” said Pozzo,
referring to Peru and Colombia.
Pozzo, whose country holds the
rotating EU presidency, made the remarks after a private meeting with
Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde and representatives from
the European Council.
The EU is pursuing a deal with Peru
and Colombia within its negotiations for a strategic association
agreement with the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), which groups
Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Bolivia and Ecuador agree with the
strategic association deal but not a free trade pact, as their leaders are more wary
of liberalizing trade with Europe.
Peru and Colombia, frustrated by
slow free trade negotiations between the EU and the CAN, had in
September formally asked Brussels to pursue swifter bilateral talks
with them. (Xinhua)