Rio, 24 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Mercosur and the European Union will discuss simultaneously both trade rules and market access. The decision to deal with both problems was considered a sign of progress, since the Europeans wanted to discuss rules first and Mercosur wanted to resolve the question of market access first. "We have decided to lower expectations on both sides and set up a work program that will bring an objective advance in the negotiations," explained minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Lafer.

The Mercosur-EU talks now have a timetable consisting of three meetings by the Bi-Regional Negotiating Committee in November of this year, and March and May of 2003. A meeting at the ministerial level is scheduled for the second half of next year when an agreement should be closed. (AB)