The European Parliament adopted by 569 votes to 84, with 35 abstentions, a recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the negotiations on the modernisation of the EU-Chile Association Agreement.

The existing Association Agreement has been instrumental in deepening EU-Chile political relations and substantially increasing trade and investment flows. Continued respect for the rule of law and a stable legal and political framework enables both Chile and the EU to exercise free enterprise and fosters an adequate investment environment that includes safeguards on the principle of legal certainty.

Chile and the Union are united by shared values and strong cultural, economic and political ties. They cooperate closely to address regional and global challenges in the areas of climate change, international security, sustainable development and global governance. Members believe that a modernisation of the EU-Chile Association Agreement has the potential to significantly deepen the existing relationship , including relations in the areas of foreign affairs and security.

Parliament addressed the following recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union:

General principles : the modernised agreement with Chile is ambitious, comprehensive and balanced and delivers tangible benefits for the citizens, businesses and economies of both sides. Members recommended considerably strengthening cooperation between Chile and the EU on the basis of shared values and principles of democracy, combating climate change, ensuring gender equality, the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In particular, they focused on: (i) a joint commitment to the protection and promotion of human rights, fundamental freedoms, gender equality, and the rights of minorities, such as the LGBTI community, and indigenous people; (ii) the respect for the process of law and fair judicial procedures; (iii) the fight against poverty and the reduction of inequalities in the light of Chile's commitment to attaining the sustainable development goals (SDGs) under the 2030 Agenda; (iv) the improvement of educational standards and programmes; (v) the effective implementation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and the eradication of forced and child labour.

Multilateralism and regional and international cooperation : the modernisation of the Agreement should contribute to the consolidation of multilateralism and international cooperation in order to promote international security and tackle global challenges of organised crime, drug trafficking, rising inequality, migration, terrorism and climate change. Chile should continue to support regional integration and cooperation schemes in Latin America, mainly through the Pacific Alliance, but also through Unasur and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).

Political dialogue and cooperation : these should be strengthened in particular in the areas of:

security and defence collaboration, including conflict prevention, crisis management, maritime security, disarmament and non-proliferation; the fight against terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime, prevention of radicalisation and cross-border crime; the fight against corruption , money laundering and tax evasion; mobility between the Union and Chile (enhance youth and student exchanges, scholarship programmes and training, in particular through the Erasmus+ programme); transfer of scientific and technical knowledge; the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate and the 2030 programme and cooperation on environmental protection and the fight against climate change; cooperation in research and development and in the use of the European Copernicus programme in the field of satellite Earth observation data for environmental purposes; reaffirming access to water as a human right.

At institutional level, Members recommended ensuring that the Association Agreement is built upon a strong parliamentary participation, by strengthening existing provisions and cooperation mechanisms, and that it ensures sufficient participation of civil society in both the negotiation and implementation phases of the Association Agreement. They called for Parliament to be immediately and fully informed at all stages of the negotiations.

The Committee on Foreign Affairs adopted an own-initiative report by Charles TANNOCK (ECR, UK) on the European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the negotiations on the modernisation of the EU-Chile Association Agreement.

The existing Association Agreement has been instrumental in deepening EU-Chile political relations and substantially increasing trade and investment flows. Continued respect for the rule of law and a stable legal and political framework enables both Chile and the EU to exercise free enterprise and fosters an adequate investment environment that includes safeguards on the principle of legal certainty.

Members believe that a modernisation of the EU-Chile Association Agreement has the potential to significantly deepen the existing relationship , including relations in the areas of foreign affairs and security.

Members addressed the following recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the High Representative of the Union:

General principles : Members recommended considerably strengthening cooperation between Chile and the EU on the basis of shared values and principles of democracy, combating climate change, ensuring gender equality, the rule of law, good governance and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

In particular, they focused on: (i) the respect for the process of law and fair judicial procedures; (ii) the fight against poverty and the reduction of inequalities in the light of Chile's commitment to attaining the sustainable development goals (SDGs) under the 2030 Agenda; (iii) the improvement of educational standards and programmes; (iv) the effective implementation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions and the eradication of forced and child labour.

Multilateralism and regional and international cooperation : the modernisation of the Agreement should contribute to the consolidation of multilateralism and international cooperation in order to promote international security and tackle global challenges of organised crime, drug trafficking, rising inequality, migration, terrorism and climate change. Chile should continue to support regional integration and cooperation schemes in Latin America, mainly through the Pacific Alliance, but also through Unasur and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac).

Political dialogue and cooperation : these should be strengthened in particular in the areas of:

security and defence collaboration, including conflict prevention, crisis management, maritime security, disarmament and non-proliferation; the fight against terrorism, organised crime and cybercrime, prevention of radicalisation and cross-border crime; the fight against corruption , money laundering and tax evasion; mobility between the Union and Chile (enhance youth and student exchanges, scholarship programmes and training, in particular through the Erasmus+ programme); transfer of scientific and technical knowledge; the implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate and the 2030 programme and cooperation on environmental protection and the fight against climate change; cooperation in research and development and in the use of the European Copernicus programme in the field of satellite Earth observation data for environmental purposes.

At institutional level, Members recommended ensuring that the Association Agreement is built upon a strong parliamentary participation , by strengthening existing provisions and cooperation mechanisms, and that it ensures sufficient participation of civil society in both the negotiation and implementation phases of the Association Agreement.