Mercosur

• Thursday, October 29th 2009 - 10:11 UTC

  Brazilian Senate ready to approve Venezuela’s inclusion in Mercosur

  

  Strong lobbying from business interests in Brazil and Venezuela apparently will have tipped the balance and open the way for the Brazilian Congress to include Venezuela in South America’s largest trade block, Mercosur when it takes a vote on Thursday.

• Thursday, October 29th 2009 - 07:11 UTC

  Brazil confirms the gradual elimination of US dollar in trade operations

  

  Brazilian Central Bank president Henrique Meirelles said the country is considering the gradual elimination of the US dollar in trade with China, Russia and India, which together with Brazil make up the BRIC group.

• Thursday, October 29th 2009 - 07:08 UTC

  Ecuador ratifies Mercosur “democratic clause”

  

  Ecuador ratified this week support to Mercosur democratic commitment or “democratic clause” which automatically throws out any country member which violates such a commitment.

• Wednesday, October 28th 2009 - 02:19 UTC

  Brazil remains divided on Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation

  

  The president of the Brazilian Senate Jose Sarney reiterated Tuesday he does not support the incorporation of Venezuela to the South American trade block Mercosur, since “decisions from the government of that country represent a crumbling and deviation of democracy”.

• Wednesday, October 21st 2009 - 07:42 UTC

  Mercosur review, top of the agenda for Uruguay’s next president

  

  It wasn’t an issue during the electoral campaign trail and hardly mentioned in political rallies but Mercosur is high in the agenda of whoever wins next Sunday’s presidential election in Uruguay.

• Monday, October 19th 2009 - 12:43 UTC

  Row with Paraguayan senate threatens Venezuela’s incorporation to Mercosur

  

  Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has infuriated Paraguayan congress arguing that with the excuse of Bolivia’s “rearmament” they are conspiring to oust President Fernando Lugo, statements that could further delay Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation process.

• Friday, October 16th 2009 - 04:06 UTC

  Uruguay committed to regional integration and a “better Mercosur”

  

  Uruguay has no plans to abandon or become an associate member of Mercosur, but rather continue along the line established by President Tabare Vazquez which is doubling efforts “for a better Mercosur” said Foreign Affairs minister Pedro Vaz during a meeting with foreign correspondents in Montevideo.

• Saturday, October 10th 2009 - 16:44 UTC

  Main opposition leader wants Venezuela in Mercosur to help control Chavez

  

  One of Venezuela’s main opposition leaders has been invited to address Brazilian Senate committees which are currently considering the long debated controversial incorporation of Venezuela to Mercosur.

• Friday, October 9th 2009 - 10:39 UTC

  Mercosur/EU extend sanitary cooperation in agriculture and livestock

  

  Mercosur and the European Union signed this week an extension of an agreement for the financing of an agriculture and livestock health cooperation project according to the UE delegation office in Montevideo.

• Friday, October 2nd 2009 - 09:26 UTC

  Brazilian Senate suspends vote on Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation

  

  The Brazilian Senate Foreign Relations committee suspended on Thursday for thirty days the consideration of Venezuela’s Mercosur incorporation protocol, following on rapporteur Senator Tasso Jereissati veto recommendation because of the “authoritarian” character of President Hugo Chavez regime.