Mercosur summit ends without Uruguay's support for joint communiqué
The presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; Argentina, Alberto Ángel Fernández; and Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, signed a joint communiqué at the 62nd Summit of Mercosur and Associated States, held on Monday (Jul. 3) and Tuesday (Jul. 4) in Puerto Iguazú, in the Argentinean province of Missions.
President Luis Lacalle Pou of Uruguay, however, did not sign the document despite attending the meeting. He believes that the document lacks important elements, such as the flexibilization and modernization of the regional bloc.
Joint communiqué
In the communiqué, which acknowledges Brazil as the new temporary president of the bloc, the presidents of the three countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and the respect for human rights. They emphasized the significance of the bloc's economic, commercial, social, and cultural agenda for the benefit of their citizens.
The presidents also agreed on the need to reflect on the modernization of the bloc, including the strengthening of the internal agenda to have greater integration of their economies, as well as the strategy for international insertion, in a consensual and solidary way. They understand that it is necessary to face the challenges of a world scenario in transformation, affected by changes in production and employment issues, with effects on the reconfiguration of global value chains.
In this context, the presidents committed to enhancing internal connections within the regional bloc, addressing trade and integration difficulties, deepening international trade insertion, and promoting the formation of sustainable, fair, and resilient regional and interregional value chains. The objective is to “transform Mercosur into a powerful platform that generates inclusive and decent employment while leveraging opportunities arising from the energy transition, digitalization, and the availability of talent for the overall economic and social development of the bloc,” the joint communiqué reads.
Regarding Bolivia's accession as a Mercosur member state, the presidents expressed their willingness to proceed with the accession process, aiming to consolidate South American integration.
External Negotiations
The report released by Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay underscores the consensus on prioritizing an external agenda that facilitates negotiations and provides opportunities for Mercosur countries to integrate into interregional chains, attract investments, increase exports, and generate quality employment.
Concerning the Association Agreement with the European Union, the three presidents reaffirmed Mercosur's commitment to advancing toward its effective signing, with the understanding that it should be beneficial to all parties, considering the varying levels of development among nations.
In regard to Uruguay's Free Trade Agreement with China, President Lacalle Pou indicated that his government will continue with the bilateral negotiation process.
However, the Uruguayan president believes that this is not the moment for the country to stop being a member state of Mercosur and become an associate of the bloc because he considers that it is a decision that cannot be taken unexpectedly.
Venezuela
In his speech during the summit, President Lacalle expressed his opposition to Venezuela's return as an associate state, referring to the decision by the Venezuelan Comptroller General to declare former deputy Maria Corina Machado ineligible for 15 years. Machado is regarded as a prominent opposition leader against President Nicolás Maduro's government. The Uruguayan president urged Mercosur members to take a clear stance on Venezuela, which was suspended from the group in 2017 due to non-compliance with democratic criteria. "I believe that Mercosur must send a clear signal, allowing the Venezuelan people to progress toward a full democracy, which they currently lack," emphasized Lacalle.
Although the joint communiqué issued at the Mercosur Summit did not explicitly address Venezuela, the Brazilian president emphasized the importance of dialogue during his speech. "In relation to the Venezuela issue, we are not evading the problems we face with democracy. We confront them openly. Since I am not familiar with the specific details concerning the candidate [Maria Corina Machado] in Venezuela, I intend to gather more information about it," stated President Lula.
