MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur debates institutional reforms.

The four Mercosur member countries are currently discussing reforms to the 1994 Ouro Preto Protocol, a milestone in the building of the block but which lately has been seen as an impediment for a closer knit organization and achievement of further expansion.

Actually the discussions are concentrating on how far to advance not only in trade issues but political and institutional aspects such as the integration to a larger South American community of nations, sponsored by Brazil and Argentina, which would include the whole continent and a regional Parliament. The reforms should be drafted and agreed by next December when the Mercosur presidential summit in Brazil.

"The coming reforms should not be limited to an "updating" of the institutional aspects of the Ouro Preto Protocol but also contemplate greater community participation as well as the "productive muscle" of each member country and the strengthening of the group", said Eduardo Amadeo from the Mercosur Permanent Representatives Committee.

Among the initiatives to be considered by country members is the creation of a "Production Committee" with similar powers to the "Trade Committee", one of the main decision making organs of Mercosur. .

Another issue is accelerating the establishment of a regional Parliament, a controversial issue since the smaller members of the group are not entirely convinced and feel it could pave the way for the loss of "political weight" in the block. .

However all these issues and the different positions from the different country members will be addressed in a representatives meeting scheduled for November 10/12 in Brasilia.