International statistical cooperation

The 2007-2013 Regional Strategy for Central America will concentrate on one main objective: to support the process of political, economic and social integration in the context of preparation of the future Association Agreement between the EU and Central America.

To support regional integration three groups of potential measures can be considered:

• The first group will entail strengthening the institutional system for the process of Central American integration;
• The second group will focus on reinforcement of the regional economic integration process;
• The third group will cover aspects of strengthening regional security

In this context, "The indicators related to the abovementioned objectives will be specified when the individual support programmes are prepared and would include a statistical sub-module".

The Second Programme of support to Central American Regional Integration (PAIRCA II) which is currently awaiting signature between EC and SICA (Central American Integration System) contains a module on information society with statistical contents on which Eurostat will have an effective role once the project is launched.

Central American countries are in the process of setting up closer links in a move towards regional integration.

A dialogue between Eurostat and regional institutions SICA (Central American Integration System) and SIECA(Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration)  on regional statistical development is currently taking place. The member countries of SICA and SIECA are largely the same but not exactly. Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica are members of both regional organisations; Panama and Belize additionally belong to SICA.

Support is also being given to the Commission on the preparation of a EU-Central America Association Agreement.