Brussels (EFE).- The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was “very optimistic” on Wednesday about the possibility of concluding the association agreement between Mercosur and the European Union this year, under his presidency “pro tempere ” of the South American block and that of Spain in the Council of the EU.
“I am optimistic, I am very optimistic. For the first time, I am optimistic that we will conclude this agreement this year,” Lula da Silva said at a press conference in Brussels, where on Monday and Tuesday he participated in the summit between the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac ).
The Brazilian president considered that “it would be very good” to be able to “finish this agreement in the presidency of Spain” of the Council of the EU.
“What could not be done in 2010, we can do now in 2023. And also in my presidency in Mercosur,” he added, referring to the year in which Spain had its last presidency in the EU.
An annexed agreement
On the sidelines of the summit, the EU and Mercosur reaffirmed their “determination” that the association agreement they concluded in 2019 can be concluded before the end of the year and “resolve all pending issues in accordance with the priorities and concerns of each party ”, according to a statement released by the European Commission after a meeting between the parties on Monday.
Both sides are negotiating an annex to the agreement that emphasizes the environmental commitments of the Paris Agreement and against deforestation.
Lula stated that the proposal sent by the EU was “an aggressive letter”, which “threatened to punish us if we did not comply with certain environmental requirements”.
“Two strategic partners do not argue with threats, we discuss with proposals,” he commented, and assured that in two weeks he expects Mercosur to send its reply.
Lula da Silva highlighted that France “is very interested in protecting its agricultural products, its small and medium-sized agriculture”, and recognized that in a negotiation “someone has to give in”.
In addition, the president of Brazil defended the industrialization of the Mercosur countries so that they are not considered as mere exporters of raw materials.