Citizens of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru will be able to circulate and reside freely in the four countries

Alvaro Mellizo

08/11/2021 7:21 PM

• Clarín.com

• World

Updated 08/11/2021 7:21 PM

The citizens of Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru can from this Wednesday

reside, work and circulate freely between these four countries, a "historic milestone"

in regional integration, as the Secretary General of the Andean Community (CAN) explains to Efe. Jorge Hernando Pedraza.

The so-called "decision 878" promoted by the CAN, which establishes the Andean Migration Statute, opens the door to

"a new integration" of the 111 million inhabitants

of the regional space, with both social and economic implications that speak "of solid progress of the conquest of Andean citizenship ".

-The Andean Migration Statute enters into force.

What does this step mean?

-This is a revealing norm, a very important episode that benefits 111 million Andean citizens and that consists of generating the possibility of mobility in any of the senses.

We will have the possibility that our tourists can enter for 90 days, extendable to another 90 days;

that temporary residents can stay two years, extendable for another two years.

And it is a mechanism that allows you to immediately assume permanent residence.

It is a novelty, something that makes it possible to truly contribute to the integration of the Andean population.

-What can the citizens of the CAN do from now on?

-This milestone will allow a true integration of citizens.

(...) As soon as it is fulfilled, with a quick and expeditious procedure at the consulate of the country where you are, you can complete the procedure for permanent residence.

It will allow you to have the possibility of exercising professional activities, in the country where you are.

It is a very facilitating norm, which will contribute very effectively not only in these post-pandemic times to a better social nexus and integration of Andean societies, but also provides some precepts that contribute to a vindication of our economy.

Integration

-What implications does a step of this caliber have for the CAN?

-This statute generates a true integration of Andean society.

It is a true action of human mobility and integration that allows us to be the same, regardless of where we are.

Let everyone feel that this is their home, their citizenship and territory and that they consequently have that ability to move or settle freely, either for tourism or for a temporary or permanent residence.

It is a much larger and more advanced step in which we could speak of the solid conquest of Andean citizenship.

A vaccination center in La Paz, Bolivia.

AFP photo

-And after this milestone, what remains?

- Alongside this milestone, or others such as achieving the liberation of the costs of international "roaming" in telephone calls, or the environmental charter, come new developments that complement these decisions.

We will work with the presidency "pro tempore" in the search for job and academic portability.

That is, that a person who works in Colombia, if he moves, has the same rights, claims and access to his social security and can exercise his work with the same rights and privileges as if he were in his country of origin. 

And the same with students, that a young man who is studying at a university and due to a circumstance has to transfer, does not have to revalidate his degree or his qualifications.

That obviously your professional title is sufficient to enter another university or that your academic title is worth the same and is equivalent to that of any other in the host country.

That they have the same validity and allow entry under the same conditions as any other national to a source of work.

-How close are we to this?

-We are making progress now, a lot of work has been done and we hope that, having overcome some difficulties in matters of educational quality to level our countries under these rigors, we can advance quickly and systematically.

The mechanism for the Migration Statute took 8 years to be approved and, although it is true that there were discussions and disparities, we have achieved it and we already have mobility with an identity of purpose.

Migrants from various parts of the world board boats bound for Capurganá.

(Colombia).

Photo EFE

The economy

- And the economic integration?

A: We have advanced with standards in the pandemic;

we act swiftly to turn difficulty into opportunity.

We have a strength, and that is that we produce food, while others, such as China, Japan and Germany make technology.

We will not compete with them.

We have a pantry that we hope will be the food pantry of the planet and several trade facilitation standards were agreed for MSMEs, to mitigate aspects to avoid interpersonal border contacts ...

In other words, digital transformation, and that becomes competitiveness and strengthens value-added chains so that we have more and better economic returns that allow us to convert it into social stability.

-All this, despite a complicated situation in the CAN countries ...

-The CAN is not a body that has political expressions as a power or function.

This is an integration body, the most solid in Latin America and with strong powers in many effects on trade.

Migrants from various parts of the world board boats bound for Capurganá.

Photo EFE

Our mission is the norm, integration, and seeking how through each action we improve the lives of Andean citizens, that's what they created us for.

And that is none other than Bolívar's dream, now that we are in the independence dates.

- I mean that the CAN continues with force despite everything, and that the governments support the organization.

-The four governments have recently and permanently ratified their solidarity and their conviction to strengthen and support the integration process.

Even in the modernization route that we have imposed (on the CAN) and that has led us to be today a current, dynamic body close to the citizen.

With things like the Immigration Statute, we ratify that what we say we do.

EFE Agency

PB

Look also

Emigrating to the US through the Darien jungle: "They warn you not to go but the need is there"

Texas: at least 10 illegal migrants killed in crash