Brussels, 21/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - The European Union and Mercosur could begin the final phase of negotiation for a free trade agreement by 20 October in Brazil, according to a declaration made on Tuesday in Brussels by European Commissioner Franz Fischler during his last exchange of views with MEPs from the agriculture and rural development parliamentary committee. In reply to questions from MEPs on this theme, he indicated that the EU would know at the end of the week whether their partners from Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) are ready to enter into negotiations. The Commissioner explained that if this is the case, a negotiating round could take place on 20 October in Brazil with the goal of reaching a conclusion. Last week, the Brazilian minister of agriculture, Roberto Rodrigues, said that it was "possible" for a conclusion on a free trade agreement to be reached between the EU and Mercosur by the 31 October deadline. Fischler pointed out that no other deadline had been set for the instant (see EUROPE yesterday p 13).
Fischler also confirmed that the Commission was awaiting the final verdict of the WTO panel on sugar before it would produce legislative proposals on changing the European system. Given that it is highly likely that the EU appeals after the WTO decision is out, the Commission is not expected to produce proposals before March 2005, he indicated (see p 8).