Brasília, 1/20/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The commissioner for Foreign Relations for the European Union, Christopher Patten, who is visiting Brazil, says that it is possible that a European Union - Mercosur trade agreement could be wrapped up by the end of this year. Patten added that some difficult trade questions remain to be worked out.

As for Brazil, minister of Foreign Relations, Celso Amorim, declared that he is optimistic about the EU-Mercosur agreement. "We want to complete it this year. It is more than a commercial agreement. It is strategic and political," he said. (AB)