EU/Chile Advanced Framework Agreement

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, the Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part (AFA).

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: Council may adopt the act only if Parliament has given its consent to the act.

BACKGROUND: in accordance with a Council Decision, the Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Chile, of the other part was signed, subject to the conclusion of the Agreement at a later date.

In accordance with that Decision, the Joint Statement on the Provisions on Trade and Sustainable Development contained in the Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part, and the Joint Interpretative Declaration on the Provisions on Investment Protection contained in the Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and Chile, of the other part, both attached to the Agreement, were approved on behalf of the Union.

It is now necessary to approve the Agreement on behalf of the Union.

CONTENT: the purpose of the draft Council Decision is to approve on behalf of the Union, the Advanced Framework Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Chile, of the other part.

The Advanced Framework Agreement:

- includes EU standard clauses on human rights, the International Criminal Court (ICC), weapons of mass destruction (WMD), small arms and light weapons (SALW) and the fight against terrorism;

- covers cooperation in areas such as health, environment, climate change, ocean governance, energy, taxation, education and culture, labour, employment and social affairs, science and technology, and transport;

- covers legal cooperation, the rule of law, money laundering and terrorist financing, organised crime and corruption.

The Trade part of the AFA broadens the scope of the current bilateral trade framework and adjusts it to the new political and economic global challenges, to the new reality of the EU-Chile partnership and to the level of ambition of recently concluded trade agreements and negotiations conducted by the EU and Chile.

Lastly, the Agreement sets up an institutional framework composed of the Joint Council, Joint Committee and Sub-Committees and other bodies to assist the Joint Council. The Agreement provides for a mechanism to address failure by one of the Parties to fulfil obligations assumed under the AFA.