Relaunch of the negotiations on the EU‑Mercosur partnership agreement

18.2.2008

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0989/08
by Javier Moreno Sánchez (PSE)
to the Commission

At the most recent Mercosur summit (17 and 18 December 2007) the Foreign Affairs Ministers and Mr Almunia (Commissioner) expressed their support for the relaunch of negotiations with a view to the conclusion of a partnership agreement between the EU and Mercosur, for which purpose they recommend that a meeting of senior officials be held as soon as possible in order to prepare the ministerial meeting to be held in Lima in May 2008.

The lack of progress in the negotiations comes at a high cost, in view of the social, economic, political and geostrategic importance of the countries in both areas. Hence the signing of a partnership agreement between the EU and Mercosur should not be delayed any longer, nor can the conclusion of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) negotiations be awaited.

Will the Commission provide information concerning the stage reached in the negotiations on the various chapters?

What new proposals is the Commission to put forward at the meeting of senior officials in order to break the deadlock in the negotiations?

Will the Commission analyse the possibility of concluding an agreement on minima in the trade chapter (including a future-developments clause in line with the negotiations conducted within the WTO and within Mercosur itself) and of concluding a partnership agreement which will enable political and institutional dialogue and social and economic cooperation to be strengthened, so that progress can be made in such important areas as immigration, employment, social rights, poverty-reduction and climate change?

OJ C 291, 13/11/2008