92003E0598

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0598/03

by Camilo Nogueira Román (Verts/ALE) to the Council

(28 February 2003)

Subject: The EU and Brazil

What measures does the Council intend to take to strengthen relations with Brazil and Mercosur, following the recent election of President Luiz Inácio da Silva and the options for working together now opened up in his programme?

Reply

(21 July 2003)

1. The Council of the European Union, at the occasion of the election of President Luiz Inácio da Silva, had the opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to continue its excellent relations with Brazil and to further enhance political dialogue, trade relations and economic links with that country. At the same occasion, the Council expressed the EU's confidence in the strengthening of the Brazilian economy

and its potential for further growth. It indicated it looked forward to working closely with the new Brazilian Government, also with a view to strengthening Mercosur, and reiterated the EU's commitment to continue to make further progress in the ongoing EU-Mercosur negotiations.

Several EU political leaders have had the opportunity of meeting President Lula da Silva since the beginning of the year, and have reaffirmed the importance they attach to the strengthening of EU-Brazil relations. The Council has taken note with great satisfaction of repeated declarations made by President Lula da Silva in favour of a more integrated Mercosur as well as of closer relations with the EU.

2. The Council has, at several occasions, renewed its commitment to intensify and deepen the existing political, economic, trade and co-operation relations between the EU and Mercosur. It has noted with satisfaction the progress made by the EU-Mercosur Bi-regional Negotiations Committee with a view to establishing an interregional strategic association to cover political, economic, trade and co-operation matters. The Council has also recognised that the association process should support and stimulate the development of Mercosur countries and contribute to the reduction of existing socio-economic disparities between the two regions. It was also agreed that the ultimate objective of the trade negotiations is the achievement of further effective access to their respective markets, on the basis of progressive and reciprocal trade liberalisation in accordance with the WTO rules.

With the above principles and objectives in mind, the EU negotiators will pursue their task with a view to reaching as soon as possible a comprehensive association agreement with Mercosur in order to deepen the political, co-operation and economic relations between the two regions.