Cooperation between SAARC and EC

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between SAARC and the European Commission (EC) on 10 July 1996 in Brussels. The focus of the MOU is on the exchange of information, training programmes, technical assistance and any other areas jointly agreed to.

The MOU seeks to draw on areas in which the European Commission has special expertise such as the Single European Market from which the process of regional economic cooperation within SAARC could benefit.

SAARC and the European Commission have accordingly identified the following areas for cooperation and projects are in the process of being implemented:

- Facilitating access into the Single European Market;
- Implementation of the EU-GSP Scheme, including cumulative rules of origin;
- Drawing on the EU experience for the SAFTA process; and
- Evolving common standards and harmonisation with international obligations, including certification, testing etc.

The EC has also recently amended its customs regulations to enable SAARC Member States to avail of the cumulative rules of origin under the Commission’s GSP Scheme.

A dialogue between the EU and SAARC at Ministerial level has taken place in 1998, 1999 and 2001.

Cooperation between SAARC and EC	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and ASEAN	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and UNCTAD	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and UNICEF	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and APT	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and ESCAP	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and UNDP	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and UNDCP	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and ITU	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and CIDA	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and WHO	Read document
Cooperation between SAARC and UNIFEM	Read document
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