Brussels, 08/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton and her Brazilian host, Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota, have said that they expect significant progress this year in negotiations on an association agreement between the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, with Venezuela in the process of joining), which will put in place a free-trade zone. “Both sides expect 2012 to be a year in which we will make progress and, ideally, conclude this bi-regional agreement”, said Patriota on Monday 6 February at a press conference with Ashton, who is visiting Brazil from 5 to 10 February. The high representative contented herself with saying that progress has to be made in the coming months.
Negotiators from the two sides will meet in Brussels on 12-16 March for an eighth round of talks. The last round of negotiations, in Montevideo at the start of November 2011 saw substantial progress made on the trade chapter of the association agreement, with finalisation of the texts on the general principles on anti-dumping, customs, services, investment and rules of origin, and a fruitful discussion on public procurement. Offers on access to the agricultural and industrial markets, the most sensitive chapter, still have to be exchanged, however. (EH/transl.rt)