Brussels, 26/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - During a visit to Madrid, with a view to the Spanish EU Presidency and the 2nd bilateral summit with Latin America next May, Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy made an enthusiastic inventory of the progress made in the "ambitious" partnership with the region, going as far as to speak of a "Eurosur", while repeating his warning about the "costs" of a free trade area of the Americas.
"If we wish to achieve the aim of integration of our two regions - and why not the creation of Eurosur - it is a matter of actions as much as of words", he said, in a speech given on Thursday at the Casa de America. Trade talks between the Union and Mercosur should take place within a political framework, he said. The last session of talks was enhanced by "concrete proposals to open our market up to their industrial and agricultural goods and services", he said. He insisted saying "we have chosen to do this, for political reasons. To make a political act, in response to those who still doubted how serious our ambition was". The gesture pleased Mercosur, which "leads one to believe that we shall soon be paid in return", all the more as the countries of the group (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) have "undertaken to submit their offer before the end of the month of October". He went on to add: "This comes just one year before the ALCA (Ed.: Pan-American) negotiations, which means we can get to the heart of the subject!". Mr Lamy continued by wondering out loud, as he had done in Brazil, about the cost and advantages of "continental integration under the aegis of the United Sates". He warned that ALCA, or any other bilateral project, must not weaken the still fragile unity of Mercosur. Regarding negotiations with Chile, the Commission refused to set a timetable in advance. "It is above all substance that matters", he said, aware, however, of the "priority that some Member States attach to rapidly concluding this agreement".