Mercosur - Commission approves EUR 4 million to support regional integration

Summary: March 12, 2004: Mercosur: Commission approves EUR 4 million to support regional integration (Brussels)

The European Commission has approved a € 4 million project to support the reduction of trade barriers between Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), thus contributing to the economic integration of the bloc. With this project, the European Commission matches its political support to Mercosur regional integration efforts with deeds aimed at stimulating economic and social development in the region. Tearing down barriers to regional trade will also help Mercosur countries to reap the full benefits of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement currently being negotiated.

With a view to facilitating the free circulation of products between the Mercosur member countries, and between Mercosur and the European Union, the programme will focus on reducing technical barriers to trade (TBT) which are currently based on national technical rules and conformity assessments and to harmonise standardisation and verification practices in the Mercosur region, in line with European or international rules.

This will allow exporters from Mercosur member countries to certify their products in the country and have better access to the Mercosur region and to international markets. It will also prepare laboratories to perform testing according to European or international technical regulations and standards, which will allow local companies, mainly SMEs, to develop and test products so that they can meet the international technical requirements.

Activities to achieve these objectives will include:

Identification, design and installation of a communication system for Mercosur certification and standarisation bodies.
Product selection and identification of harmonisation and certification needs.
Definition of accreditation scope and accreditation bodies, developing laboratory quality systems and acquisition of corresponding equipment.
Developing testing methods and accrediting testing/calibration laboratories.

The project's total cost is € 4.65 million, of which € 4 million will be provided by the European Commission; the rest will be covered by Mercosur. The project will be coordinated by INMETRO, an autonomous body of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Brazil.

Background

The European Commission supports the Mercosur regional integration efforts to stimulate economic and social development in the region. The EU 2002-2006 regional strategy for Mercosur lays down three main objectives: support to the implementation of the Mercosur internal market, support to Mercosur institutionalisation and support to civil society in the region.

The EU is currently negotiating an Association Agreement with Mercosur. The XIIth round of negotiations takes place in Buenos Aires (Argentina) between 7-12 March. Main items on the agenda are: political dialogue, co-operation issues, trade matters and Mercosur regional integration.

Ref: EC04-049EN
EU source: European Commission
UN forum:
Date: 12/3/2004

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