Brussels, 24/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The first Uruguayan president to make an official visit of the European institutions, Fernando Armindo Lugo Mendez, who currently chairs Mercosur, admitted on Tuesday 24 May after a meeting with the president of the European Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, as part of the series of talks to set up the world's biggest free trade zone that there were disagreements within both Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay) and the European Union, but commented that Mercosur was not afraid of pluralism. He said it was legitimate for EU and Mercosur countries to think differently from one another and expressed optimism about the possibility of reaching agreement, although he would not suggest how long he thought this might take.
Agreeing with Lugo about the problem of the farm aspects of the talks, Barroso explained that progress had been made on political and regulatory issues for a future association agreement between Mercosur and the EU, adding that they had agreed on the need for each side to continue preparing to improve what they are offering in terms of access to the market. After the fifth round of negotiations, the two sides decided to postpone the unveiling of their offers, probably until November (see EUROPE 10375). European farmers are concerned about the impact of opening up EU agriculture markets to South American farmers.
In terms of relations with Paraguay itself, the president of the Commission congratulated the country on its economic progress. Lugo explained that the country's economy grew by 15.3% in 2010, mostly due to cooperation with the EU. Newspapers in Paraguay suggest that the government was negotiating with the EU to increase Paraguayan meat exports to 2,500 tonnes and to open EU markets to a Paraguayan herb called stevia, renowned for its sweet taste. Barroso pointed out that the EU continues to support regional integration, giving the example of the inter-governmental organisation UNASUR, set up in 2008, which comprises all Latin American countries with the exception of French Guyana.
Along with a meeting with the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, Lugo also met a delegation of MEPs from the EuroLatin Parliamentary Assembly (EUROLAT). At its plenary in Montevideo (Uruguay) last week, EUROLAT passed three resolutions on the trade, social and security aspects of EU-Latin American relations. (M.B./transl.fl)