He Mercosur – European Union (EU) agreement The agreement is languishing as an event of little priority for both regional blocs, but some countries are still considering the possibility of achieving its signature after more than 20 years of negotiations. According to the Minister of Economy of Spain, Carlos Body, the results of the parliamentary elections and the European Commission (EC) They open a new opportunity for the implementation of the free trade agreement.
After the tremor generated by the elections in the European Parliament —with an unexpected victory for the French far right— as in the Parliament of France —where the left had a historic result that allowed some relief in terms of intraregional foreign policy in the Old continent-, A small light at the end of the tunnel came back on for the Mercosur-EU agreement.
“I believe that as the European Commission is renewed, a new opportunity will open up to boost negotiations and reach an agreement that, we are convinced, would be very positive for both regions,” said Cuerpo in statements at Rio de Janeirowhere he participates in the meeting of finance ministers of the G20.
“We have had a few months of downtime due to the European elections, But I think a new window of opportunity is now opening up and that is my main message,” said Cuerpo.
According to the minister, following the renewal of the European Parliament, the mandate of the President of the European Commission was extended, Ursula von the lawand the bloc is currently in the process of filling the commissioner posts. But the trend would point to resuming the talks that, in early 2019 and late 2023, were on the verge of being closed with the signing of the agreement.
The last obstacles, meanwhile, were on the side of Europe, with fierce opposition from France in particular. In that sense, for Cuerpo, the victory of the left in the recent French parliamentary elections. “When I talk about a window of opportunity, it is not just that the institutional cycle in the European Union, but we are all, and I think it is something common in the Union, with a much more oriented view towards Latin America”, he said, in line with the EU’s intention to increase the number of “reliable partners”.
“I think that the bridge that Spain builds between the European Union and Latin America has to help strengthen these relations, and we hope that the agreement is also closed” with the Mercosur, he concluded.
Little optimism in Argentina
The Chancellor of Argentina, Diana Mondino, He made clear his lack of optimism regarding the signing of the Mercosur-EU agreement, although he nevertheless assured that “they should be more worried” in the European bloc.
Referring specifically to the questions of France against him agriculture of the region, he warned in dialogue with Scope Argentina: “The French countryside is heavily subsidized and, I think, they have a misunderstanding of what the agricultural sector is. Mercosur”.
However, he slipped in feeling pessimistic about an eventual signing of the agreement by pointing out that “Mercosur is 32 years old and we have been working on that agreement for 19 years.” Anyway, he said: “I don’t know, one day it will come out.” Otherwise, Mondino considered that “they should be more worried about the European Union that in Mercosur.”
Finally, the chancellor of the government that he heads Javier Milei He referred to the lack of effectiveness of the regional bloc, a point that is pointed out by different sectors in the Uruguayan politics. “We don’t even have a Common Customs Office,” Mondino said.
Source: Ambito
