Brazil’s Lula to receive interim leadership of Mercosur

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will assume interim leadership of Mercosur during the 62nd Summit of Mercosur and Associated Countries, which will take place in Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, next Tuesday (4th).

The temporary presidency of the group, consisting of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, will last for six months, with high expectations for the conclusion of the Mercosur-European Union agreement.

During a press conference held in Brasilia on the 29th, Ambassador Maurício Carvalho Lyrio, Secretary for Economic and Financial Affairs at the Brazilian Foreign Trade Ministry (Itamaraty), explained that the government is finalizing the evaluation of key points in the Mercosur-European Union agreement to present to the bloc’s partners and subsequently lead negotiations with the European economic group.

The diplomat also emphasized the critical stance of the Brazilian government regarding the recent demands made by the European Union for the agreement with Mercosur.

He stated, “It is not a fast process, as the agreements are delicate and require intense internal coordination. The government started this process six months ago, so it demands great care on our part. Thus, during this period, the Brazilian government dedicated itself to conducting the evaluation. I believe we are very close to presenting our remarks to the Mercosur partners and subsequently to the European Union.”

Negotiations

According to the Itamaraty, the primary extra-regional negotiations on the Mercosur agenda include the Mercosur-European Union agreement, the Mercosur-AELC (European Free Trade Association) involving Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, and negotiations with Singapore, Canada, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Ambassador Gisela Maria Padovan, Itamaraty’s secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, explained that Mercosur is engaging in dialogues with the Dominican Republic and El Salvador and is implementing deals with Chile and Colombia. Bolivia is also in the process of joining the bloc.

All countries in South America have been invited to the Mercosur Summit, scheduled for July 3rd and 4th.

Source: Jornal do Brasil

To read the original report, visit: https://www.jb.com.br/brasil/politica/2023/06/1044602-lula-recebera-comando-temporario-do-mercosul.html

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