Central America Prepares For E.U. Negotiations

The third round of Central American Coordination talks ends today in San José. The purpose of the talks was for the Central American countries to reach agreements as they prepare for the first round of negotiations on the European Union-Central American Association Agreement. E.U. representatives have said the agreement will be a negotiation with Central America as a region, not as individual countries, and that a greater degree of Central American integration will be required. E.U. representatives have also said that negotiation of an association agreement would be difficult if Costa Rica does not ratify the Central American Free-Trade Agreement with the United States (CAFTA).