Mercosur

• Thursday, October 10th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  EU approves expansion

  The European Commission approved this Wednesday a historic report recommending that ten new countries be admitted into the European Union by 2004. Future members who have fulfilled EU political and economic criteria are Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Cyprus and Malta.

• Wednesday, October 9th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Ciro Gomes supports Lula

  Former centre left candidate Ciro Gomes announced his full, “unrestricted and enthusiastic” support for Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in the October 27th run off for the Brazilian presidency.

• Tuesday, October 8th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  President Duhalde optimism

  Argentine president Eduardo Duhalde said that the country would reach an understanding with the International Monetary Fund before November 9th when Argentina must honour a 250 million US dollars debt with the World Bank.

• Tuesday, October 8th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  South America News

  Dairy farmers of the world unite; Mega cruise conglomerate; Looking for investors; Chile and Mercosur; “The Argentine Consensus”; Argentine inflation recedes; Omega 3 fish oil from squid; Chilean red please;Salmon and trout exports drop in value...

• Monday, October 7th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Brazil: Yet another battle?

  In spite of the overwhelming showing in Brazil's Sunday presidential election, almost doubling his closest opponent, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will have a run-off next October 27th.

• Friday, October 4th 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  The day after

  With opinion polls indicating that Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Hill and his Workers Party will be victorious in the first round of this Sunday's Brazilian crucial presidential election eyes are now set on the day after.

• Wednesday, October 2nd 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  “Protest” vote growing

  With just six months to the presidential election, the Argentine electorate is sending ever more clear signals of its rejection of the political system.

• Tuesday, October 1st 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Chile in Security Council

  Chile was chosen last week to the United Nations Security Council as non permanent member and will take over from Colombia next January. Chile will hold the post for two years.

• Tuesday, October 1st 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Chilean unemployment almost unchanged

  Unemployment in Chile during the June-August quarter dropped slightly (0,1%) to 9,6% compared to a year ago, but actually increased 0,2% over the previous quarter.

• Tuesday, October 1st 2002 - 21:00 UTC

  Most expensive country of the region

  Following currency devaluations and recession in Mercosur member countries, Chile has become the most expensive country in US dollars of the region. This means that countries once considered expensive have now become a “bargain”.