MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

European MPs recommend “supranationality” to advance integration

Socialist Portuguese MEP Sergio Sousa Pinto

A delegation of European MPs visiting Uruguay for the opening of the Mercosur Parliament called on the regional block not to fear “supranationality” which is needed to advance integration.

Socialist Portuguese MEP and president of the visiting delegation Sergio Sousa Pinto said that for "Mercosur integration to be successfulâ€Ã‚¦the group will have to move to a supranational phase". "Economic integration and political integration are closely linked, because there are issues that can only be solved in the framework of a political integration negotiation", said Sousa Pintos. Supranational law has been "an essential pillar of Europe's leadership; if Europe is willing to export the model it's because she is proud of what has been achieved, which has ensured peace and economic development for a continent that had committed suicide", added the MEP. "When we talk of supranationality, we're not preaching or pretending to lecture, supranationality actually defends the interests of small countries", insisted the Portuguese MP. Socialist Spanish MEP Emilio Menendez del Valle said that to overcome the "obvious asymmetries" inside Mercosur, what is needed "are solidarity, generosity and willingness from senior members towards junior members". He admitted having noticed certain skepticism of Uruguayans towards Mercosur but he recommended "patience". Talking about Mercosur-EU trade and political relations Spanish Conservative MEP Daniel Varela said the agreement has been delayed because of the Doha Round talks, although "the technical aspects of the understanding are practically concluded". Brazil has been "legitimately" playing a double role by waiting for the global multilateral agreement before closing the deal with the European Union, and since the Doha round has a strict timetable, "next June 30 that door will be definitively closed or opened". However Varela pointed out that the agreement will be signed "with the original four", in direct reference to the founding members of Mercosur, so as not to prolong negotiations. "Those who incorporated later (Venezuela) can join in as we move along". The Socialist MEP was quite critical of United States strategy in the region. "The EU negotiates with the whole (Mercosur) group, not with individual countries", said Menendez del Valle, adding that the US has "no other interest than economics and trade". "The EU is interested in promoting political values and cooperation with the purpose of reinforcing multilateralism in international relations", he emphasized.