BRASILIA, Dec 21 (NNN-EFE) — Brazil passed the semi-annual presidency of Mercosur to Paraguay this Saturday, at the conclusion of the South American bloc’s summit in the border city of Foz do Iguaçu.
The summit concluded with the publication of a joint declaration with 41 points, in which the bloc’s “disappointment” was expressed due to the postponement of the signing of the agreement with the European Union, which was due to internal divergences within the bloc.
The declaration also reaffirmed the member countries’ interest in revising the common external tariff, as well as the commitment of the Mercosur countries to regional integration, regulatory modernization, and the bloc’s commercial opening.
The document also reaffirms the support of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay for the full accession of Bolivia, which is in the final phase.
Regarding the upcoming semi-annual presidency, the head of state of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, stated that he intends to promote the trade agreements being negotiated by the South American bloc.
One of those agreements, with the European Union, should be signed next January in Paraguay, after the Europeans postponed the signing, which was scheduled for this Saturday, due to internal divergences.
Peña also wishes to promote concrete projects of regional integration, especially a waterway and the road integration corridor that will connect Brazil with the Pacific Ocean.
The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Argentina, Javier Milei; Paraguay, Santiago Peña; Uruguay, Yamandú Orsi; and Panama, José Raúl Mulino, in his capacity as an associated country, participated in the Foz do Iguaçu summit. — NNN-EFE