The European Commission informed in a press release that they plan to resume the negotiation process on February 22.
Honduras will participate fully and Panama will take part as an observer.
“EU wants a ‘comprehensive association agreement’ with the region, which includes political dialogue in Human Rights, climate change and development cooperation, plus a free trade agreement”, reported Nacion.com.
Central America's chambers of commerce requested the European Union to recognize the elections in Honduras, in order to resume negotiations for an association agreement.
At a meeting in San José, Costa Rica, the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of the Central American Isthmus (Fecamco), "unanimously endorsed Honduras' elections" and asked the European Union to recognize them.
"The European Union will not admit a mandate change for Central America to negotiate without Honduras".
Such were the words of Marco Vinicio Ruiz, Costa Rican Commerce Ministry, "who had insisted on that idea with his homologous in the region", according to PrensaLibre.cr.
EU's decision will stagnate, for a second time, negotiations between the isthmus and the European Union.
Costa Rica's Commerce Ministry is proposing a change in the rules, in order to close the agreement without Honduras.
So far, Europe's stance has been to put the process on hold until the Honduran crisis is resolved with the restitution of deposed president Manuel Zelaya, an event that may never occur. If the winner of the planned elections in Honduras is not recognized, the Association Agreement with Europe could be postponed sine die.