Uruguay considers leaving Mercosur – 07/03/2023 – World

The chancellor of Uruguay, Francisco Bustillo, indicated this Monday (3) that the country is considering leaving Mercosur as a member state if the bloc does not “become flexible”. Montevideo has insisted for two years on its desire to sign a bilateral agreement with China – which Brazil and Argentina see as a violation of the group’s norms.

“[A participação no bloco] It is something that, without a doubt, Uruguay will have to consider at some point,” Bustillo told the Uruguayan press after a meeting of ministers. founder and become an associate.”

He pondered, however, that the decision would have to go through several instances. “But all these considerations, which are on the table as a possibility, are issues that transcend me, and that will be considered by all the political forces that make up Uruguay,” he added after the meeting in Puerto Iguazú.

Mercosur currently comprises Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, and has the other seven South Americans as associated countries, with the exception of Venezuela, suspended in 2016 for violating the bloc’s clauses. Since 2012, Bolivia has been in an accession process that depends on the approval of the Brazilian Congress — Chancellor Mauro Vieira said he wants to move forward with the procedures in the coming months.

Asked about the existence or not of legal studies on the possible exit from the bloc, minister Butillo said: “There are studies. and found it”.

When contacted, the chancelleries of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay did not comment on Bustillo’s declarations. According to members of the Brazilian government who participated in the meetings, a possible departure from Uruguay was not mentioned at the summit of ministers. The country, they say, actively participated in the debates.

The Uruguayan used his speech to press for flexibility. “China is waiting, Uruguay is also waiting. As we have said repeatedly, for Uruguay it is always better to be accompanied, at any negotiating table, by Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. […] The only thing we won’t allow is immobility.”

He also opposed President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), who has been criticizing new environmental demands by the European Union to ratify a free trade agreement between the blocs —whose negotiations have lasted more than 20 years. Itamaraty stated that it should present an expected response to the demands “in a few days”.

“About the European Union, suffice it to say that we regret not having been able to correspond to our proposals, expectations and circumstances. At the beginning of this semester, we agreed that the priority would be the EU”, said Bustillo.

“At the end of this Presidency [semestral] from Argentina, we confirm that we have not advanced in the negotiations. We had agreed on a schedule of meetings for the entire semester between the Mercosur and EU delegations, and none of them could be held,” he continued.

In January, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou had already criticized what he calls Mercosur protectionism at the CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Summit. He urged the region’s leaders to stop “complaining inwardly” and understand the need to move forward with global integration.

The speech differed from that of his correspondents in Brazil and Argentina, who spoke in unison on the need to combat the advance of the ultra-right. At the time, Mauro Vieira said in an interview with Sheet that carrying out the negotiations would mean the destruction of the bloc.