Readout from the meeting of EVP Dombrovskis with Mercosur Foreign Ministers Vieira (Brazil), Cafiero (Argentina), Arriola (Paraguay) and Bustillo (Uruguay)

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and European Commission EVP Dombrovskis met in Brussels on the occasion of the EU-CELAC Summit of Heads of State and Government. They reaffirmed their determination to work towards the conclusion of the Agreement between the EU and MERCOSUR by the end of 2023, and to resolve all outstanding issues in accordance with the priorities and concerns of each party.

They underlined that the Agreement will be a building block for a stronger trade and political partnership in order to face common challenges together and for a relationship based on sustainable development. It will help to strengthen reliable, sustainable, and resilient regional and bi-regional value chains and boost the competitiveness of industry on both sides. It will also provide opportunities for SMEs and for the most vulnerable segments of our societies.