XIXth Ministerial meeting of the San José dialogue, Panama, 12 May 2003. Joint communiqué

The Nineteenth Ministerial Conference on Political Dialogue and Economic Cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the Member States of the Central American Integration System (SICA) was held in the city of Panama, on 12 May 2003.

During the meeting, ministers stressed the priority they give to furthering the relations between the two regions, in particular following the decision at the Second Summit of Heads of State or Government of the European Union, and Latin America and the Caribbean, held in Madrid, on 17 May 2002, to negotiate a Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement,as well as to strengthen cooperation on trade, investments and economic relations, with the aim of establishing the conditions under which a mutually beneficial Association Agreement between CA and the EU could be negotiated, including a free-trade area and building upon the outcome of the Doha Work Programme, which they have commited to complete by the end of 2004.

The European Union and Central America also reaffirmed their commitment to the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms and cultural diversity.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Relations between Panama and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-panama-and-the-european-union/

---