The EU-Chile Joint Consultative Committee

The EU's relations with Chile are among the closest in the region. The Association Agreement signed in 2002 marked one of the longest running associations and its update is further is further strengthening our bilateral ties. The EESC has had fluid contact with Chilean civil society over the years, primarily through biennial EU Latin America Organised Civil Society meetings.

Since October 2016 until February 2025, this relationship took the form of a Joint Consultative Committee, marking closer, more structured dialogue between civil society in both regions and with their respective political authorities. The Joint Consultative Committee was set up between the EESC and civil society partners and organisations from Chile. It was composed of nine members from each side, representatives from employers' organisations, workers' organisations and other interests groups. The JCC met once a year to debate and allows civil society organisations from both sides to debate topics of common interest and to follow up the modernisation of the Association Agreement.

In 2025, with the entry into force of the Interim Trade Agreement, and with the provisional application of the Advanced Framework Agreement, the mandate of the Joint Consultative Committee expired, giving way to a different form of Civil Society dialogue between the EU and Chile. The new legal framework calls for a creation of the Domestic Consultative Groups on both sides within two years from the entry into force of the Agreement.