MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazilian Senate ready to vote on Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation

President Lula da Silva made the announcement at the summit

Brazilian president Lula da Silva announced Tuesday during the Mercosur summit in Montevideo that the Brazilian Senate should, finally, vote on the incorporation of Venezuela to the South American trade group as a full member.

“The incorporation of Venezuela adds the concepts of scale and complementation to our block and hopefully, hopefully, this week the Brazilian Senate will approve the adhesion protocols”, said Lula da Silva in the speech to his peers.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Venezuela first requested to become full member of Mercosur back in July 2006. Until then Venezuela was an associate member as Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

Chavez request received a quick confirmation from the Legislative branches of Uruguay and Argentina, but is still pending the Ayes from Brazil and Paraguay.

The Brazilian Senate has the vote on Venezuela in this week’s agenda but it’s not the first time the proposal has been frozen or suspended given the divided positions which the President Chavez triggers.

Further on Lula da Silva said Mercosur is working for an integrated South America “and our integration stake seems today stronger than ever”.

But he also warned his peers that “to consolidate our unity we need to eliminate the current double tariff system”, which is harmful for trade, investments and solid integration.

Lula da Silva added that growth prospects for the region are “very good” and Mercosur “keeps its arms open and extended to all those looking for a better future”.

The Brazilian president promised that trade with junior partners Uruguay and Paraguay, (that have increasingly complained about senior members, Brazil and Argentina trade practices) will jump p 500 million US dollars in 2010.

Finally Lula da Silva stated that negotiations with the European Union for the signing of a trade agreement with Mercosur have become “a major target” and the whole block is committed to achieve a fair and balanced treaty next year.