July 12, 2023, 4:18 PM
July 12, 2023, 4:18 PM
“We do not give up government purchaseswhich is a means to develop our small and medium-sized entrepreneurs,” Lula said at a ceremony in which he reaffirmed his government’s commitment to the science and technology sector.
The Brazilian president confirmed that on Saturday he will travel to Brussels to attend the summit that will bring together the leaders of the EU and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celac) next week.
Lula exercises in this semester the rotating presidency of Mercosur, the block formed by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay.
The negotiation between Mercosur and the EU has lasted 25 years
According to the Brazilian president, concluding a negotiation that began 25 years ago “interests” both Mercosur and the EU, despite reiterating his disagreement with the chapter on government purchases included in the agreement reached in 2019.
In addition to this point, Mercosur has expressed misgivings about a document annexed to the 2019 text submitted this same year by the EU, which establishes new guarantees in environmental matters.
That document has already been considered by Lula as a “threat” to the agricultural producers of Mercosur, a bloc that is working on a response to this text that, in the words of the Brazilian president, should be “forceful.”
