Brussels, 14/06/2000 (Agence Europe) - The second round of talks between Mercosur and the EU for an association agreement including trade liberalisation opened on Tuesday in Brussels with mutual briefing on the integration process by both regional groups. Presenting the reform of Common Agricultural Policy, the Community delegation insisted on the "multi-functional nature of agriculture, its role in territorial occupation, the organisation of society in Europe but also in the rest of the world", said Damien Hernandez, Head of Unit at the Commission.
The three working groups for trade issues are to meet for the first time this week (see EUROPE of 10 June, p.7 for details). The technical group devoted to public procurement, competition and dispute settlement met on Tuesday, followed by the group devoted to trade in goods and then, on Wednesday, by that on trade in services, intellectual property, etc. Both parties also exchanged voluminous paperwork on their customs systems and their respective integration measures. Mercosur raised questions mainly bearing on the generalised system of preferences and on the trade agreements concluded by the EU with ACP and Mediterranean countries, Mexico, South Africa, on duties and subsidies for agricultural products, as well as on the anti-dumping legislation and safeguard measures.
In addition to the list of questions on the implementation of customs Union between the four Mercosur countries, the European Union presented a first list of trade barriers practised by these countries.