Brussels, 20/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - Meeting on the sidelines of the 6th round of talks for a free trade agreement (FTA) between the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Venezuela in the process of accession), from 4-8 July in Brussels (see EUROPE 10420), business representatives from both sides - BusinessEurope and Eurochambres and the South American Brazilian Business Affairs and Mercosur-EU Business Forum - confirmed their support for an ambitious trade pact and called for talks to be speeded up. Talks have been delayed since they were triggered in 2010, with the exchange of offers on market access between the two sides being postponed until the end of the year at the earliest. Although they welcome progress made to date in the regulatory field, European and Latin American business circles urge negotiators to proceed to an exchange of offers as soon as possible. There is a risk that further delays will sap business confidence in the EU-Mercosur FTA. After a first failure in talks followed by a freeze on talks lasting almost four years, the FTA was relaunched in 2010 with a view to being concluded as swiftly as possible. In addition to reducing uncertainty for companies and investors, a complete agreement covering agriculture, industry, services and investment would stimulate rapid growth and jobs in both regions, a joint press release states. (E.H./transl.jl)