Brussels, 28/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - The countries of the Mercosur bloc have pledged to breathe new life into free-trade negotiations with the EU, which have been at stalemate since they were relaunched in 2010.
A ministerial meeting, which was scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the EU/CELAC Summit held in Santiago, Chile, on 26 and 27 January, led to little in the way of positive results, but gave new impetus to the labourious negotiations to create a free-trade zone between the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Venezuela, Paraguay being currently suspended and Bolivia in the process of joining), in the broader context of an association agreement also based on a political pillar. These talks, initially launched in 1999, were previously resumed in 2010 following a shelving in 2004, at the persistent request of the South Americans.
In view of the readiness of their European partners, the countries of the Mercosur bloc pledged this weekend to submit an offer by 1 October on access to the agricultural and industrial market. Between now and then, the capitals of the South American bloc will carry out consultations among themselves, said Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, who was attending the meeting on the European side. Before submitting its offer, the South American partners also anticipate that a new government will be formed in Paraguay as a result of the general elections of 21 April. Conditions for the participation of Venezuela, a full member of Mercosur since July 2012, will also be discussed.
Commissioner De Gucht welcomed the “enormous effort made to breathe new life into the negotiations”, particularly praising Brazil's “enormous role” in this process. (EH/transl.fl)