Between 1994 and 2017, the European Union (EU), previously European Community, concluded cooperation agreements with 6 countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The agreement with Nepal is no longer in force.
The agreements aim to develop the cooperation ties between the partners, while ensuring a respect for human rights and promoting democratic principles.
The decisions conclude the agreements on behalf of the EU.

KEY POINTS

The main cooperation objectives concern:

trade, with the aim of increasing, diversifying and liberalising trade. The parties agreed to open up their respective markets and to enhance their cooperation in customs matters in line with the principles of the World Trade Organization;
the economy, in order to improve the business environment, dialogue between businesses, information sharing, and the training of entrepreneurs;
sustainable development, specifically for social progress and combating poverty. The EU is to support the progress of partners in the fields of health, education, improving the standard of living, and promoting the role of women in society;
developing human resources, vocational qualifications and promoting international standards on decent work;
rural development, increasing trade in agricultural, fisheries and farmed products, including improving sanitary and phytosanitary measures.

The agreements also provide specific objectives depending on the different needs of the country for:

scientific and technological cooperation, which should lead to improvements in the technical assistance with Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Bangladesh’s quality and control standards, and the launching of joint research projects, researcher mobility, and sharing of scientific information (particularly in the fields of biotechnology, new materials and geosciences) with India;
environmental protection, particularly to support Pakistan in natural resource management, erosion and deforestation; Bangladesh for reducing the risks of natural disasters; Sri Lanka for preventing industrial pollution, and India for drafting and implementing environmental legislation, research and training;
improving the environment for private investment with India and Sri Lanka;
developing industry and services with India and Pakistan;
protecting intellectual property rights with India and Sri Lanka;
cooperation in the fields of information, culture and communications with Pakistan and Bangladesh;
promoting the energy sector with India and Pakistan, recognising the importance of the energy sector for their economic and social development;
combating drug trafficking and money laundering, particularly with Pakistan and Bangladesh using special measures against the production and trafficking of drugs, and also preventing drug abuse;
tourism with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, particularly through studies and information sharing;
promoting human rights and gender equality and the involvement of civil society with Afghanistan;
supporting peace and security with Afghanistan.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

Country	Entry into force
Afghanistan	provisional application since 1 December 2017
Pakistan	1 September 2004
Bangladesh	1 March 2001
Sri Lanka	1 April 1995
India	1 August 1994

BACKGROUND

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