Brussels, 16/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy's spokesman indicated on Friday that the European Union and Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay) have decided to give themselves "a few more days" to finalise the "improved offers" that they were supposed to exchange with a view to the conclusion, at the end of October, of a future association and free-exchange agreement (see yesterday's EUROPE, p. 13).
Arancha Gonzalez explained, in gist, that the parties intended to perfect their respective offers, adding that "we (the EU) are prepared to make a maximum number of concessions provided that there are also a maximum number of concessions from Mercosur's side". She announced that two senior Commission officials, the Director General for Agriculture, José Silva Rodriguez, and for Trade, Peter Carl, would go next Sunday to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, which currently holds the chair of Mercosur. With their representatives, they will state, sector by sector, what each expects of the other in order to bring the finishing touches to their respective offers. According to Mrs Gonzalez, the presentation of the offers will take place in a matter of days. She spoke to the press of next Monday or Tuesday, underlining, however, that "there is no fixed date".
Let us recall that the Mercosur countries want the EU to offer improved access to their agricultural products, whilst the European Union is expecting an improvement in offers relating to procurement, investment and services. Mr Lamy's spokeswoman stressed that despite the deferment of the exchange of offers, the parties were still respecting the timetable agreed in order to finish in October.
Let us recall also that the EU Commissioner for agriculture, Franz Fischler, will be in Brazil from 27 to 30 April, to discuss the chapter on agriculture in the negotiations.