Answer given by Ms Malmström on behalf of the European Commission

11.10.2019

The trade agreement with Mercosur, on which political agreement was reached on 28 June 2019, is part of a broader Association Agreement, which also contains provisions on political dialogue and cooperation in a range of other policies. The negotiations of the non-trade parts of this Association Agreement are not yet fully finalised. These also include the institutional provisions of the Agreement, and those related to dialogue with civil society. Once full political agreement is reached on the entire text of the Association Agreement, the texts will be published promptly. This will enable the Honourable Members to gain a more complete view of the institutional framework of the Agreement.

The Commission attaches great importance to the participation of civil society in the implementation of Association Agreements with third countries and considers it essential that each Party be accountable to its civil society. Such dialogue with civil society should cover all aspects of the Agreement, including trade.

With regard to a joint dialogue between EU and Mercosur civil society, the Agreement will establish a relatively open and flexible framework. It will include an open Forum to be held alongside meetings of the Association or Trade Committee. The Forum will allow civil society to provide input on the implementation of the Agreement. In further setting the modalities for this dialogue, the Commission and the High Representative will take into account the views of civil society organisations.

Furthermore, the Agreement promotes the existing dialogue between the European Economic and Social Committee and the Mercosur Consultative Social and Economic Forum and encourages its contributions to the institutional mechanisms set out in the Agreement.