Mercosur-EU: Focus on deepening, expanding relationship

The Mercosur-European Union Ministerial Meeting was held in Brussels, Belgium, on June 11, 2015. The European Union was represented by Ms. Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Trade of the European Commission. Mercosur was represented by: Mr. Mauro Vieira, Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil and Pro Tempore President of Mercosur, accompanied by Mr. Armando Monteiro, Minister of Development, Industry and Trade; Mr. Carlos Bianco, Secretary of International Economic Relations of the Ministry of External Relations and Worship of Argentina; Mr. Eladio Loizaga, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Paraguay, accompanied by Mr. Gustavo Leite, Minister of Industry and Trade; Mr. Rodolfo Nin Novoa, Minister of External Relations of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay; and Mr. Alexander Yanez, Vice Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

The Ministers focused on the importance of deepening and expanding the relationship between both blocs and, to this end, had an open and frank exchange of views on the state of play of the negotiations for an ambitious, comprehensive and balanced Association Agreement.

They reaffirmed their full commitment to strive for a conclusion of the negotiations, in line with the statement by the Heads of State at the Mercosur-EU Summit in 2010, and underlined the importance of maintaining the constructive atmosphere that has guided negotiations thus far.

The Ministers exchanged general information on their respective market access offers, in accordance with what had been agreed at the EU-Mercosur Summit in Madrid on 17 May 2010. Ministers agreed that, provided conditions for a successful exchange are met, the goal shall be to exchange market access offers within the last quarter of 2015. To assess those conditions, they tasked negotiators to meet expeditiously and report back to their respective authorities.

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