The European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso called on Mercosur to decide whether it wishes to advance in trade talks with the European Union jointly, as a block, and suggested the idea of a 'two-speed negotiation', since it is clear that Brazil is interested in advancing and wants to reach an agreement.
Brazil trusts Mercosur and the European Union can exchange the proposed tariff lists for a free trade agreement keeping to the original schedule, before the end of the year, according to the country's foreign ministry.
Mercosur must have greater integration, act with an only voice and operate as a block, advised former French president Nicholas Sarkozy at a business conference in Buenos Aires, where he also underlined that without the European Union, France or Germany could have disappeared from the world map
Brazil's influential daily O'Globo called for a drastic change in the country's approach to trade policy arguing that without a review, Mercosur does not work and reveals that the latest signals from Argentina are that it is reluctant to reach a free trade and cooperation agreement in the framework of Mercosur with the European Union.
For Mercosur it is absolutely crucial that the trade and cooperation agreement with the European Union becomes effective said Uruguayan Vice-president Danilo Astori who indicated that Brazil and Uruguay are advancing the agreement at a faster speed than Argentina, which is involved in a more protectionist focus.
Uruguayan president Jose Mujica decided to advance Monday's ministerial cabinet for Saturday so that he can fly to Brazil and Venezuela where he is scheduled to meet with Dilma Roussefdf and later Nicolas Maduro. Mujica on Friday al last moment cancelled his trip to Brasilia but will be meeting Rousseff in the southern city of Porto Alegre.
Mercosur negotiations, disputes with Argentina and economic complementation with Brazil are among the main issues of a long agenda that Uruguay and Brazil will address when President Jose Mujica visits his Brazilian peer Dilma Rousseff on Friday in Brasilia.
Mercosur members will be holding an extraordinary meeting in Caracas on 15 November to define an 'only joint position of the group ahead of the presentation to the European Union, in the framework of negotiations for the trade and cooperation accord, said Venezuelan foreign minister Elías Jaua.
A member from the European parliament, Jean Pierre Audy who headed a mission to Brazil last week said he was confident that next year the long standing negotiations for a free trade and cooperation agreement between the European Union and Mercosur could be concluded.
Foreign minister Eladio Loizaga revealed that the Paraguayan congress must first approve Venezuela's protocol of incorporation to Mercosur before the country can attend the coming bloc's summit scheduled for next 17 December in Caracas.