On a tour of Latin America, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, assured his Uruguayan counterparts, on Monday 24 October, and his Argentine counterparts, on Tuesday 25 October, that the EU remained “fully committed to signing and ratifying” the free trade agreement with Mercosur.
In Uruguay, which holds the rotating presidency of Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay), Mr Borrell said he hoped that the European Commission will be able to present, “before the end of the year”, the elements that will allow this agreement to go ahead (see EUROPE 13011/9). He spoke of “additional procedures” and “a reinforced commitment” aimed at removing doubts, particularly French ones, about the environmental impact of the agreement. According to him, this document will not reopen the agreement that was reached in June 2019 (see EUROPE 12285/5, 12286/3), but will complement it.
“I think that 2023, with the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council, would be the right time” to finalise the free trade agreement, Mr Borrell added.
On Wednesday, following his meeting with the Argentine president in Buenos Aires, the High Representative said Fernández had encouraged him to “put all the remaining issues on the table in order to find a mutually positive solution for both regions”.
Argentina Regarding bilateral relations between the EU and Argentina, Mr Borrell referred to bilateral negotiations “at an advanced stage” on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) formalising energy cooperation between the two partners. According to him, such an agreement between the EU and Argentina will allow us “to promote renewable energy and Argentina’s gas energy potential” including “the construction of plants” to transport Argentine gas to Europe.
Mr Fernández and Mr Borrell also discussed the need to update the bilateral cooperation agreement signed over 30 years ago. Complementary to the agreement with Mercosur, the EU/Argentina agreement would address institutional, political, economic and trade issues, the High Representative said.
Mr Borrell’s tour comes on the occasion of the meeting of EU, Latin American and Caribbean foreign ministers in Buenos Aires on Tuesday 26 and Thursday 27 October. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)