Central America, EU to discuss migration, trade

Representatives of the European Union (EU) and Central American nations will hold a new round of talks at the end of March to discuss migration, trade and fiscal governance, an EU official said here Wednesday.

"During the coming negotiation round in March in Brussels, the two sides will also talk about milk products, services and establishments, and sustainable development related to labor and environment issues," Mendel Goldstein, EU representative in Central America and Panama, told reporters.

"It will be discussed for the first time the negotiation agenda for issues related to organized crime and climate change," he said.

Goldstein said that during last month's negotiations in Brussels, some articles were reached for the Economic Association Agreement, including one related to the indigenous people.

Both sides also discussed sanitary measures, environmental protection, energy and transportation, as well as cases of specific Central American products such as bananas, shrimps, sugar and rice, he said.

The European Union expects to sign the Economic Association Agreement with Central American nations on May 18 during the Europe-Latin America and the Caribbean Summit to be held in Madrid, Spain.

Source: Xinhua