WRITTEN QUESTION E-3709/01 by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Free-trade agreement with Mercosur.
Date: 2002-01-16
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Mercosur, free-trade agreement, international negotiations, regional development

C 277 E/16

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

14.11.2002

(2002/C 277 E/014)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3709/01

by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(16 January 2002)

Subject: Free-trade agreement with Mercosur

Does the Commission consider it possible to reach a settlement regarding a free-trade agreement between
the European Union and the South American customs union Mercosur in the near future, and is anything
currently happening in the negotiations between the Union and Mercosur?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(18 March 2002)

The Union has long supported a strengthening of the process of regional integration represented by the
Mercosur (1) initiative which it has supported since its inception in 1991. Notwithstanding the current
the Union continues to work towards a stronger
cyclical downturn on both sides of the Atlantic,
relationship with Mercosur and a deepening of
the Mercosur process internally. According to the
Directives for the negotiation by the Commission, this Association Agreement has three pillars: political,
co-operation and trade.

Six rounds have already taken place in the negotiation of a biregional Association Agreement between
Mercosur and the Union. The 7th round of negotiations will take place in Buenos Aires on 8-12 April
2002.

Substantial progress has been achieved on the political and co-operation chapters.

Concerning the trade negotiations, a comprehensive and ambitious agenda is under negotiation, including
inter alia liberalisation of goods and services, investment, government procurement, intellectual property
rights, competition, a dispute settlement mechanism.
Important progress has been registered so far,
especially in the second half of 2001, with the exchange of tariff offers and of negotiating texts for the
chapters on goods, services, and government procurement. The nature of these negotiations and the
number of partners involved means that time is needed for these negotiations. The progress of these
negotiations is at least in part linked to the evolution of economic integration within Mercosur.

The current situation in the region and, in particular the crisis in Argentina, is clearly a cause for concern:
it is clear that both sides are determined to carry out their work programme in these
nevertheless,
negotiations and ensure that further progress is made. The General Affairs Council of 28 January 2002
adopted a political Declaration in favour of Mercosur as the Union believes that a strengthened Mercosur
will be the key to the development of the region. At
the Union also reiterated the
commitment to continue to make further progress in the negotiations.

this meeting,

(1) Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

(2002/C 277 E/015)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0066/02

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(23 January 2002)

Subject: Position of the presidency of the Council with regard to the reform of the CAP

The priorities announced by the Spanish presidency do not include the reform of the CAP, which requires
a decisive boost in 2002, in particular, in view of the important role to be played by rural development
and food security, with measures which may affect the EU budget, a large proportion of which is currently
devoted to agricultural policy.