Brussels, 02/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Exchanges between European and South American negotiators, meeting in Brussels in mid-October, were, according to diplomatic sources, “constructive” on virtually every chapter of negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). At this second meeting since the resumption of talks agreed at May's EU-Latin America Summit, the two sides agreed a timetable setting dates for four new meetings between now and mid-2011, with the next scheduled to take place in Brasilia from 22 November to 3 December, and the three others in March, May and July 2011. It was also agreed that the two parties would exchange their first trade proposals at the start of next year.
The planned timetable is, then, fully in line with the objective set by Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht of completing negotiations before the summer recess 2011. In addition, De Gucht retains the confidence of the European Parliament which, in Strasbourg on 21 October, voted overwhelmingly to back the resumption of talks with Mercosur, on condition that the agricultural goods imported from that region meet European health, social and environmental standards. (E.H./transl.rt)