Uruguay regrets difficulties in completing negotiations between Mercosur and the EU

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Uruguay regrets “the difficulties observed” to conclude the negotiations of the agreement between the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the European Union (EU) since they hinder deepening the relationship between both blocs.

According to reports, this was stated by the Uruguayan Foreign Minister, Francisco Bustillo, during a meeting held on Monday (14) with a delegation from the EU before the Joint Commission that will meet on Tuesday “to deal with political and cooperative issues”, according to information provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Read also: Check out our coverage on Uruguay

The European delegation included, among others, the director for the Americas of the European Union’s External Action Service, Javier Niño Pérez, and the European Commission’s deputy director-general for International Partnerships, Myriam Ferran, according to information provided to Efe from official European sources.

These sources indicated that the Joint Commission would hold an extensive meeting this Tuesday at the Uruguayan Foreign Ministry before the European delegation travels to Paraguay, the next stop among the Mercosur partners.

“At the meeting, Minister Bustillo pointed out and regretted the difficulties that have been observed in completing the negotiations of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, which results in the impossibility of achieving a deepening of the relationship between the two blocs”, continues the statement of the Uruguayan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Likewise, Bustillo highlighted “the importance and usefulness” of dealing in the meeting of the Joint Commission “the issues that make up the bilateral relation with Uruguay” and to advance in them “according to the excellent existing link.”

The Association Agreement between the EU and Mercosur was signed in 2019, after 20 years of negotiations. Still, it has not yet entered into force because it depends on the ratification of the Congresses of all those involved, and there are European countries that do not trust the environmental commitments of Mercosur nations.

Some governments, such as those of France and the Netherlands, have been reluctant to support ratification because, they claim, opening the European market for Mercosur agricultural products may increase deforestation in the Amazon.

These countries have been particularly critical of the environmental management of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. They have demanded that he commit himself to policies for the preservation of the Amazon and the fulfillment of the commitments of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

However, for some Mercosur countries, these are only excuses for not ratifying the agreement, as European trade protectionism is the main problem facing ratification.

For the full picture, see our Mercosur EU Trade Deal: Complete Guide.