Brasília - Negotiators from the European Union and Mercosur have decided to begin a concentrated effort to reach an agreement on free trade within the scheduled time frame which should end on October 31. The idea is that technical meetings will begin today in Brussels and on September 20, specialists from both sides will present complete lists of offers to be followed by a ministerial meeting a month later to evaluate progress. And an agreement will be signed at the end of October, says minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim
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Amorim made his comment following a meeting yesterday here in Brasilia with the EU trade commissioner, Pascal Lamy. Amorim admitted that problems remain on both sides but that the Lamy trip to Brazil shows that the EU considers the talks important. "We had a productive meeting in which we exchanged points of view on areas where we can make progress. I believe the effort to reach an agreement is worthwhile and should be made," said Amorim.

Lamy says the EU considers the talks a priority. "Of course, there are still many problems to resolve, but we have made significant progress," said Lamy. "We are working under a deadline, but it is not a do-or-die deadline."

The EU wants access to telecommunications, maritime transportation and banking on an equal footing with local operators, besides an opening in government procurements. Mercosur has focused on market access for goods that it can produce more competitively, such as beef, alterrnative fuels (sugarcane-based alcohol), chicken and bananas.

Agência Brasil
Reporter:Lana Cristina
Translator: Allen Bennett
09/13/2004