Sources aware of the negotiation explained to Ámbito that they aim to “sign the agreement in December”, so it could be in force as of 2023. Along these lines, they detailed that “The ultimate goal is for Argentina to provide liquefied gas to Europe in the medium term”. The text will also include an article to ensure that local supply is not harmed. In other words, self-sufficiency will be prioritized as a fundamental principle.
This Tuesday, Cafiero held a working meeting with Fontelles, at the Palacio San Martín. In the official statement issued after the meeting, the parties underline “the strategic role that food and energy production represents today.” Along the same lines, they point out that “mutual interest extends to the case of hydrogen, as another energy vector and lithium as an input for electromobility”.
The text published by the Foreign Ministry maintains that “in these two cases, the officials highlighted the role that Argentina can play as a provider of clean energy, food, strategic minerals and the development of value chains associated with these sectors.”
The signing of the memorandum has to be read in the context of the recent launch of the REPowerEU plan. An initiative that Brussels announced in May as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and that seeks to make Europe independent of Russian fossil fuels “long before 2030.” In its articles it contains “diversification” as one of its points. This implies that “the EU will collaborate with international partners to find alternative energy providers. As soon as possible, gas and oil, but for the future, also renewable hydrogen”, according to the text of the plan.
Fontelles and Amador Sánchez Rico, EU ambassador to Argentina, were also received by Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in her office. “Thank you for the visit and the shared talk about the reality that Europe and Latin America are going through,” tweeted the vice president after the meeting.
CELAC – EU Summit
Diplomatic representatives of 59 countries are currently in the country. This Wednesday the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was held, whose pro tempore presidency is in the hands of Argentina. In addition, starting Thursday the bloc will have its joint meeting with the European Union.
President Alberto Fernández, head of CELAC, seeks to promote a new concept, that of “secure supply chains”. This aims to highlight the stability that the region could provide in terms of food, mining and energy. In this sense, Cafiero indicated that “the CELAC-EU mechanism is very necessary in times of uncertainty, and the relationship between both blocs is presented as strategic.”
As Ámbito learned, the Government’s intention is to re-discuss the European Union-Mercosur agreement, but from CELAC. In other words, add all the countries of Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean to the negotiation to generate a more important economic bloc. It is a point that will be debated precisely at the summit.
Source: Ambito
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