Lula da Silva goes to MERCOSUR Heads of State Summit to become bloc president

Brazilian President Lula da Silva travels to Argentina on Tuesday for a summit of MERCOSUR heads of state and takes over the country’s chairmanship of the bloc for the next six months.

“This summit is especially relevant for us because, firstly, Brazil is taking over the presidency “temporarily” in the context of resuming the priority of integration, that is, this is not a routine presidency, this is a priority given by the government to integration processes. ” Ambassador Gisela Padovan, Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a statement.

One of the most important portfolios Brazil will have in its hands is a trade agreement between the bloc comprising Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay with the European Union (EU).

“The government is translating President Lula’s instructions into a document that will be presented first to the MERCOSUR partners and then to the European Union. This is a process that is not going so fast because the agreements are very delicate and require internal coordination work. very tense,” said Ambassador Mauricio Lirio, Secretary for Economic and Financial Affairs of the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The EU is awaiting Mercosur’s counter-offers on an environmental safeguards instrument proposed by the Europeans in new negotiations on a trade deal that both blocs signed in 2019 and is awaiting ratification.

While the EU is demanding assurances that it will not import MERCOSUR products that contribute to deforestation or climate change, some MERCOSUR members, such as Brazil, are asking for a review of what has already been agreed on public procurement.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva even called the new green protocol “unacceptable” and “a threat” during his visit to France in late June.

Meanwhile, on Monday, Mercosur’s foreign ministers began a meeting ahead of the bloc’s semi-annual summit to be held on Tuesday in the Argentine city of Puerto Iguazu.

The regular meeting of the Common Market Council, the political decision-making body of the bloc, is attended by the foreign ministers of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – MERCOSUR member states – and Bolivia, which is in the process of full accession.

“We intend to work intensively with partners whose negotiations are at an advanced stage, such as the EU, to explore the possibility of reaching agreements that are in line with the requirements of the current global context,” Mauro, head of Brazilian diplomacy, said. Vieira at a meeting of MERCOSUR foreign ministers in Puerto Iguazu.

In the afternoon, representatives of the associated countries of the bloc (Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, Guyana and Suriname) should take part in the meeting.

At the same time, there will be a meeting of finance ministers and presidents of the central banks of MERCOSUR, Bolivia and associated countries.

The presidential meeting on Tuesday will also be attended by the heads of state of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou, Paraguay Mario Abdo Benítez and Bolivia Luis Arce, as well as Paraguayan President-elect Santiago Peña, who will take office. August 15.