The Brazilian government wants to accelerate the approval, by the National Congress, of the commercial partnership agreement that political representatives from Mercosur and the European Union signed last Saturday (17).
According to the vice-president of the Republic and minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services, Geraldo Alckmin, the President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva must forward, in the next few days, the proposal for accession and internalization of the treaty for consideration by the Chamber of Deputies.
“There was a setback, but we will overcome it,” said Alckmin, referring to the decision of the European Parliament this Wednesday (21). By 334 votes in favor, 324 against and 11 abstentions, MEPs approved the proposal to ask the Court of Justice of the European Union for a legal opinion on the legality of the agreement.
In practice, the European Parliament’s initiative paralyzes the process of implementing the agreement, which, to enter into force, still needs to be approved by the parliaments of the 32 countries involved: 27 European and five South American (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay). On average, The Court of Justice of the European Union usually takes around two years to issue an opinion.
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“Brazil will not stop. It will continue with the process, forwarding the request for internalization of the agreement to the National Congress [brasileiro]”, added the vice presidenthighlighting that some European political leaders in favor of implementing the agreement, such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, defend that the terms of the agreement be approved and gradually implemented, on a provisional basis, while the court does not give its final word on the initiative.
“The faster we act, the better, as I understand that this will help to ensure that there is a transitional validity while there is discussion in the judicial area”, argued Alckmin. “Our objective is that there is no delay [na implementação do acordo]”.
Shortly after Alckmin met with the president of the Senate’s Foreign Relations and National Defense Committee, senator Nelsinho Trad (PSD-MS) and, at the end of the meeting, spoke with journalists, the president of the Brazilian Export and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), Jorge Viana, also commented on the impasse resulting from the European Parliament’s decision.
According to Viana, the possible halt in the process, after 26 years of negotiations, generates “some apprehension”, although Brazilian authorities remain optimistic.
“We understand that this is a good agreement for both sides [Mercosul e União Europeia]but which faces a lot of resistance because there is, in Europe, a lobby very large against Brazilian products. We respect differences, but we did our homework and now the European Parliament needs to do its”, commented Viana, revealing that the Apex plans to lead an action to promote Brazil’s image in the European Union and, thus, try to convince European public opinion that the Mercosur/European Union agreement will bring benefits to the population of the two regional integration blocs.
“What there is, in fact, is a narrative dispute. And, for this reason, we are going to work on Brazil’s image […] Dispute public opinion and parliament in Europe”, concluded Viana, ensuring that he has already spoken with the president of the Senate, senator Davi Alcolumbre (União-AP), who assured him that analyzing the agreement will be a priority for Parliament.
According to ApexBrasil, the implementation of the Mercosur/European Union free trade agreement could increase Brazilian exports by around US$7 billion, promoting the diversification of Brazilian international sales. Among the main benefiting sectors are transport machinery and equipment, electric power engines and generators, auto parts, such as piston engines, and aircraft, which benefited from an immediate tariff reduction. Opportunities are also highlighted for products such as leather and skins, stonework, knives and blades and items from the chemical industry.
