The Andean Community of Nations (CAN) and the European Union (EU) will start trade talks in the first quarter of 2007, Alain Lipietz, chairman of European Parliament Delegation for relations with CAN countries said in Lima on Friday.

CAN covers a territory, which is roughly one and a half times as large as that of the EU, and which accounts for 40 percent of the total area of Latin America. The EU accounts for 15 percent of CAN's total trade volume, while the CAN share of total EU trade is a mere 0.7 percent.

The EU is seeking an association agreement, not a full free trade agreement, "to avoid damage to economies." Lipietz said.

Lipietz, leading a three-member-strong team on a working mission, also expressed public criticism on the border wall that the United States is planning to build at its border with Mexico.

He added that the EU nations were willing to help Peru's social policy, which may be supported via non-governmental organizations, and called on the Peruvian government to guarantee NGO's freedom to do their work.

Source: Xinhua