MercoPress https://en.mercopress.com/ South Atlantic News Agency en Copyright 2026, MercoPress. https://en.mercopress.com/web/img/en/mercopress-logo.gif MercoPress http://en.mercopress.com/ <![CDATA[The EU deal's quota split will dominate the Mercosur summit as Uruguay takes the helm]]> The agreement's commercial chapter entered provisionally into force on May 1, after more than 25 years of negotiations The internal distribution of export quotas under the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union will dominate much of the debate at the bloc's summit of heads of state, to be held on June 30 in Asunción, where Paraguay will hand over the six-month presidency to Uruguay. The meeting coincides with the 35th anniversary of the Treaty of Asunción, the bloc's founding charter.

]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2026 22:13:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay to deploy army armored vehicles to patrol high-crime Montevideo neighborhoods]]> The initiative drew controversy and reopened the discussion about the role of the Armed Forces in internal security Uruguay's government announced that twelve Mamba MK-7 armored vehicles from the National Army will begin to patrol, under police command, the Montevideo neighborhoods with the highest crime rates, a measure to reinforce the fight against organized crime that has opened debate in the political system. Interior Minister Carlos Negro confirmed that his ministry is working on a “very advanced” agreement with the Defense Ministry to carry out the deployment in the coming days.

]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:54:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay deepens its search for the dictatorship's disappeared with access to new archives]]> The March of Silence crosses Montevideo every May 20 since 1996 under the motto “Where are they?”, seeking truth and justice for the dictatorship's disappeared. Photo: Sebastián Astorga Uruguay expanded its policy of searching for those who were detained and disappeared during the dictatorship with the signing of an accord for the treatment, preservation and administration of archives on human-rights violations committed in the country between 1968 and 1985. The agreement, signed on Monday in Montevideo, deepens a strategic pact reached by state bodies in February.

]]> Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:19:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay enjoys 'positive discrimination' but must lift investment and productivity, BBVA says]]> The bank forecasts that Uruguay's economy will grow 1.3% this year, below the 2.2% projected in the Budget law and the 1.6% to which the Ministry of Economy later adjusted its estimate Uruguay enjoys a "positive discrimination" relative to other economies for its institutional solidity, respect for agreements and political maturity, but its economic growth has been low over the past decade and its potential GDP —now at 2.1%— is declining. That was the assessment of economists from BBVA Research, one of Europe's largest banks, at the "Situación Uruguay" webinar, where they said the country's main challenge is to boost investment and raise productivity.

]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:27:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay to add AI to environmental controls and seeks a new environmental-crimes law]]> In Minister Ortuño's view, the increase in administrative sanctions set by the recent fines decree “must be complemented by the incorporation into the Penal Code of a chapter on environmental crimes” Uruguay's Environment Minister, Edgardo Ortuño, said the ministry will incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into environmental controls and push for a new environmental-crimes law, among the priorities he outlined ahead of the budget review (Rendición de Cuentas) that the Executive will present to Parliament on June 30.

]]> Sun, 14 Jun 2026 20:30:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay takes over the Mercosur presidency this month, with EU quotas a top priority]]> “Before the end of September that issue has to be closed,” Lubetkin said Uruguay will assume the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur on June 30, during a summit of the bloc in Paraguay, with the distribution of the quotas from the agreement with the European Union (EU) among the main items on its agenda. Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin said the country is already preparing to take on that role and that “the technical teams are already working.”

]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:17:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay sheep produce exports from July25 to May26 reached US$ 281 million]]> The average wool export price in the July 25/May26 period, jumped 29.3% Uruguay sheep produce exports grew 28% between July 2025 and May 2026, totaling US$ 281 million, boosted by wool, 72% of income while lamb and mutton the remaining 27%.

]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2026 21:45:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay's Orsi slips to 12th in a regional presidential ranking; Bukele leads]]> According to the poll's breakdown, 19.8% of those surveyed said they had a “very good” image of the president and 19.0% a “good” one; at the other end, 33.5% rated it “very bad” and 22.2% “bad” Uruguay's President Yamandú Orsi fell to 12th among the 18 leaders in the June ranking of best-rated Latin American presidents compiled by the Argentine consultancy CB. With a 38.8% positive image, Orsi dropped one spot from May and remains in the survey's "regular" band.

]]> Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:07:00 GMT <![CDATA[Uruguay's anti-graft body faces Congress as opposition alleges 'political use' in Orsi case]]> The controversy stems from the purchase of the vehicle, valued on the market at about 79,000 dollars, which Orsi bought for 54,000 dollars days before taking office The directorate of Uruguay's Transparency and Public Ethics Board (Jutep) appeared on Thursday before the Chamber of Deputies' Security and Coexistence Commission, amid the controversy over President Yamandú Orsi's purchase of a Hyundai Santa Fe. National Party deputy Pablo Abdala, who requested the summons, accused the body of "political use."

]]> Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:32:00 GMT <![CDATA[Montevideo's Carrasco airport to fly to 15 destinations in June with 158 weekly flights]]> Carrasco closed 2025 with 2,144,071 passengers, the best figure in its history Carrasco International Airport, in the department of Canelones, will operate in June with 11 airlines and a total of 158 weekly frequencies to 15 direct destinations, according to the schedule released by Aeropuertos Uruguay. The program consolidates the regional and international network of the country's main terminal, with Brazil as the fastest-growing market.

]]> Tue, 02 Jun 2026 21:14:00 GMT