First meeting of the EU-Chile Joint Consultative Committee

Lidija Pavić-Rogošić shortly explained the role and the activities of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). In her welcome address, Co-Chair of the JCC, Lidija Pavić-Rogošić, explained satisfaction with the establishment of this Committee, which will contribute to the better cooperation both between Chilean civil society and the one within the EU. “Additionaly, by the establishment of JCC, even the last provision of the Association Agreement, concluded between the EU and Chile in 2002. is carried out.

In that sense, we did not only establish a Committee, but also carry out what was agreed upon 14 years ago. It was a long journey, but I am certain that it will be a productive process in the future.”, emphasized the Co-Chair at the end of her address.

JJC has important challenges ahead of it and is defined in its contribution. The most important challenge is the modernization of the Association Agreement. From the year 2002 when it was signed, agreements have become more comprehensive and it is time to modernize this Agreement accordingly.

Members of the JCC are looking forward to the new Agreement, which will deepen the political dialogue, especially on the multilateral plane; improve and widen trade cooperation;which will integrate issues of the sustainable development into all components and improve cooperation through new forms of cooperation, f.e. tripartite cooperation with third countries. ” We hope to have the opportunity to give contribution of the civil society during negotiations.”, said Pavić-Rogošić.

Some of the topics on which we could work together and in which the civil society could give a high-quality contribution are: promotion of equality, global Sustainable development goals and Climate Action, social and civil dialogue, harmonization the agricultural standards, urban development, vocational education, gender equality, human and consumer rights, circular economy. These are the topics which could be discussed during further meetings, with the priority being given to the topics on which Association Council will seek opinion from the JCC, whose consultative body it is.

During the second day of the meeting, members of JCC were greeted by the senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Edgardo Riveros, the Under-Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Christian Rehren, director for EU Affairs. Members of JCC expressed gratitude to Chilean Government and EU Delegation for continuous support in the process of the establishment of JCC.

During the second work day, regulations of work of JCC and joint work plan were agreed upon. Further, the role that JCC will have in the process of the modernization of the Association Agreement was defined and clarified, as also its general role in the relations between EU and Chile. Members of the JCC confirmed their commitment to constructive action, which aims to contribute to strengthening of ties and development of public policies accordant with interests of organized civil society. In general, JCC has 18 members, nine representatives of the Chilean organizations and nine members of EESC, three from every group (employers’ association, trade unions and organizations of various interests).

Representatives of the Chilean part of JCC are from further organizations:

Employers’ associations:

• CPC, Confederation for Production and Commerce of Chile, which gathers the main production areas
• CONAPYME: National Confederation of Small and Mid-Sized Enterprises Chile
• CONUPIA: United National Confederation of Small and Medium Industry of Chile

Trade unions:

• All three Chilean trader unions have representativse in JCC: CUT (Workers’ United Center of Chile), UNT (National Union of Workers) and CAT (Autonomous Workers Central)

Organizations of various interests:

• ACCION: Association of 55 non-governmental organizations
• CONADECUS: National non-governmental organization of consumers and users in Chile
• Foro Empresarial Cooperativo: Association of 12 cooperatives from different fields of action

Reports of the meeting were published on the web pages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile (reports can be accessed here and here and the web pages of the EU Delegation in Chile (look here )

The next meeting will be held in 2017 in Bruxelles, and two topics which will be discussed and on which each side will prepare a report, will be proposed by the Chilean side. A topic which will certainly be on the agenda is the modernization of the Agreement between the EU and Chile.