The European Union gears up to enter next stage of negotiations with Mercosur and with Chile

A large EU team for the Association Negotiations with Mercosur and with Chile would be travelling to Montevideo (2-7 July) and Santiago (9-12 July) for fifth round negotiations.

These negotiations were a priority on the European Union's agenda, in the run-up to the Second EU-Latin America Summit which will take place in May 2002 in Madrid. In this regard, the EU welcomes the determination of Chile and the recent Mercosur Summit decision to accelerate negotiations.

This fifth round launches tariff and services negotiations and included discussions on the institutional structure of the agreement as well as topics to be included in the field of political dialogue and economic co-operation. The EU would present additional proposals covering trade in goods, services, government procurement and business facilitation (customs related matters and electronic commerce).

ESO: Key Source: Relations between Chile and the European Union http://www.europeansources.info/record/relations-between-chile-and-the-european-union/

European Commission: DG Trade: Policy: Countries and regions: Mercosur http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/regions/mercosur/

---