On Monday 23 October, the European Commission published its report on progress in free-trade negotiations between the EU and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), following the fourth round of talks at technical level (since these negotiations were relaunched in 2010) held in Brasilia in early October, as well as the EU's text proposal for the chapter on trade and sustainable development.
Despite revised offers on market access (for goods, services and public procurement) felt by both sides to be unsatisfactory, the Europeans and South Americans remain committed to trying to conclude an agreement in principle by the end of 2017 (see EUROPE 11880).
The president of the Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said after the European Council of 19 and 20 October that the Commission would do all in its power to conclude a political agreement on a free-trade deal with Mercosur by the end of this year.
On market access, the “EU fulfilled now its commitment by putting on the table the remaining elements of its market access offer in time with a view to reaching a political agreement by the end of the year. This is a well-calibrated offer that takes into account Europe's agricultural sensitivities”, the Commission stressed in a press release published on Monday. (Original version in French by Emmanuel Hagry)