EU Trade Commissioner to discuss Mercosur negotiations in Paraguay and Uruguay

EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht visited Paraguay and Uruguay on 7-9 February 2011. Both countries belong to the Southern Common Market, Mercosur, and Paraguay currently hold the presidency of the trading bloc.

Commissioner De Gucht met with his counterparts and other high-level government officials in an effort to advance the ongoing EU-Mercosur trade negotiations and to promote bilateral trade relations with the two countries. The Commissioner was due to address the Mercosur negotiations as well as key bilateral issues with Paraguay's President Fernando Lugo and Uruguay's President José Mujica.
He would also meet with the Foreign and Trade Ministers of the two countries and with local business leaders.

ESO: Background information: Relations between Paraguay and the EU http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-paraguay-and-the-eu/

---