Presidential Declaration of Lima: 50 Years of the Andean Community

The Presidents of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Evo Morales Ayma; of the Republic of Colombia, Iván Duque Márquez; of the Republic of Ecuador, Lenin Moreno Garcés; and of the Republic of Peru, Martín Vizcarra Cornejo, meeting in Lima, Peru, on May 26, 2019, within the framework of the XIX Andean Presidential Council;

WE DECLARE

1.- Our congratulations for the 50 years of existence of the Cartagena Agreement and the Andean Community, and for its permanent contribution to strengthening the subregional integration process.

2.- Our satisfaction in noting that the institutional framework of the Andean Integration System remains solid and current, after the profound socio-economic changes that have shaped the Region over the last five decades.

3.- We welcome the achievements and strategic objectives achieved in these 50 years of existence, whose benefits contribute substantively to the well-being of our peoples; among others:

· A market of 110 million Andean inhabitants with a nominal per capita income of $ 6,500. This income, which represents an indicator of the improvement of the standard of living, has registered an important growth, multiplying 17 times since 1969 to date.

· The Free Trade Zone of 8 902 million dollars of intra-community exports and its greater dynamism with respect to trade with third countries, as well as the development of a market with added value for medium and high technology manufactures.

· The greater diversification of intra-Andean exports in comparison with those exports directed outside the Andean block, where 90% represented 588 NANDINA subheadings.

· The Andean legal system, which gives legal security to trade operations and establishes rights in favor of Andean citizens.

· Free movement of Andean citizens without visas, as tourists.

· The development programs in border areas and the various Andean health plans in force to date.

4.- To advance in the construction of a vision for the future of the Andean Community, which prioritizes the work oriented to the satisfaction of the needs of its populations; especially, among others, in the following areas:

· Free mobility of people

· Andean digital agenda: digital transformation, connectivity, innovation, and information and communication technologies.

· Digitalization of procedures.

· Energy interconnection between Andean countries and other countries in the region.

· Strengthen the free trade area of the Andean Community.

· Trade facilitation

· Strengthen commercial complementarity.

· Joint commercial promotion actions.

· Strengthening of SMEs and SMMEs.

· Evaluation of international standards to access markets in third countries.

· Programs for the improvement of public education and health services that are provided to the population, in accordance with the provisions of the Cartagena Agreement and the prioritization made in the reengineering process.

· Inclusion of vulnerable populations.

· Promotion of gender equality.

· Active participation of indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples in Andean integration.

· Road safety to prevent traffic accidents in the Andean Community.

5.- Our recognition for the following achievements during the Peruvian Pro Tempore Presidency:

· Andean Decision 837 that replaces Decision 399 on the International Transport of Goods by Road.

· Andean Decision on the Creation of the Andean Observatory responsible for the Management of Official Information on Mercury.

· Andean Decision approving the "Andean Five-Year Plan (2019-2024) for the Implementation of the Proclamation of the International Decade for People of African Descent"

· Andean Decision that harmonizes the legislations regarding Cosmetics products

· Signature of the Mutual Recognition Agreement of the Authorized Economic Operator.

· Progress in the preparation of the three Electrical Interconnection Regulations to be approved by Resolutions of the General Secretariat.

· Progress in the preparation of the Andean Migratory Statute.

· Advances in the Andean Decision that establishes the International Roaming Service among the Member Countries of the Andean Community.

6.- Our firm commitment to strengthen and give a renewed dynamism to the Andean integration process; as well as to advance towards a process of dialogue, coordination and deepening of synergies with regional and subregional integration mechanisms. We believe that, at present, the Andean Community should enhance its geographic projection towards other regions, and become the articulating axis with the rest of South America.

7.- Our intention to move towards a more relevant integration process for the Andean citizen, considering, among others, the purposes contemplated in the Cartagena Agreement, as well as the commitments assumed in the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and its objectives of sustainable development.

8.- Our decision to provide that our respective governments and their competent public entities, are devoted to the implementation of the Guidelines that are given below, which will be evaluated by the Andean Council of Foreign Ministers and the Commission of the Community Andean in what corresponds, with the support of the General Secretariat, Committees and other organisms of the Andean Integration System. In that sense, it is provided that:

8.1.- Prepare a report that analyzes and projects the best way to deepen the integration of the Andean Community to the global value chains and the extraregional economic blocs, through the General Secretariat and with the support of the Technical Committees and groups. of experts.

8.2.- In accordance with the provisions of Decision 463, proposals are made on harmonization, standardization and recognition regimes for activities and providers of tourism services, with the support of the General Secretariat and the corresponding Technical Committees.

8.3.- Proposals are formulated for a sustainable development strategy based on inclusive growth, environmental conservation and the reduction of inequalities in the Andean space, in accordance with the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals, monitoring and monitoring being carried out of the achievements obtained; with the support of the General Secretary and the specialists and / or the corresponding Technical Committees.

8.4.- Proposals are analyzed to advance towards an Andean Human Mobility Statute.

8.5.- Proposals are formulated for the implementation of digital platforms for the exchange of information in real time, in order to facilitate the transit of people, merchandise and facilitate customs procedures.

8.6.- Proposals for an Agenda with a view to elaborating policies and common provisions in the field of education, culture, science, technology and tourism in the Andean countries, with the participation of the Simón Bolívar Andean University and other bodies of the Andean System of Integration, through the General Secretariat and with the support of the corresponding Technical Committees, Boards and Working Groups.

This Agenda must include the guidelines for the adoption of community policies related to the improvement of the quality and coverage of education, the promotion and respect of the cultural diversity of the subregion, the exercise of interculturality, the development of technological innovation, as the development of tourism, among others.

8.7.- The Andean Health Organization - Hipólito Unanue Agreement formulates proposals for policies and measures for the improvement of the public health service in the subregion and for the attention of Andean citizens in the countries of the Andean Community.

8.8.- Proposals are formulated for the strengthening of the sanitary and phytosanitary status of the Member Countries, so as to allow a greater productive chain among the Andean countries; and the use of trade agreements with third countries.

8.9.- Proposals for an agenda for cooperation at the subregional and global levels are presented, with the purpose of intensifying cooperation relations and the exchange of experiences.

8.10.- The work of the Ad-Hoc Group on Dispute Resolution will be promoted, through the General Secretariat, in order to continue the project to reform the Andean Dispute Settlement System.

9.- Our agreement to meet in an ordinary manner in 2020, in accordance with the provisions of Article 13 of the Cartagena Agreement.

10.- Encourage the holding of meetings of the representatives of the Andean Integration System bodies, in accordance with the provisions of Article 10 of the Cartagena Agreement.

11.- Our thanks to the Republic of Peru for the exercise of the Pro Tempore Presidency of the Andean Community and for the important achievements and progress made since May 2018; as well as our greater willingness to accompany and support the Plurinational State of Bolivia in this task assumed on the date.

12.- Recognition of the implementation of the peace process in Colombia.

13.- Our appreciation and recognition to the people and Government of the sister Republic of Peru for their hospitality and support for the successful completion of the XIX Andean Presidential Council.

Signed in Lima, Peru, on the twenty-sixth day of the month of May, two thousand and nineteen.

Evo Morales Ayma, President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia

Iván Duque Márquez, President of the Republic of Colombia

Lenin Moreno Garcés, President of the Republic of Ecuador

Martín Vizcarra Cornejo, President of the Republic of Peru

This Andean Community release was published using machine translation.