The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Paraguay, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, reaffirmed the “constructive disposition” to move forward in the effective implementation of the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union, during the 67th meeting of the Mercosur Common Market Council, the bloc’s ministerial-level decision-making body, this Friday (19), according to a note from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“In particular, Paraguay trusts that the safeguard mechanisms will be addressed and applied in a manner compatible with respect to what was negotiated and agreed, and also in accordance with multilateral norms, preserving the balance of rights and obligations of the parties,” said Lezcano.
The chancellor also stated that “Paraguay believes and is committed to a Mercosur that works for everyone, capable of translating its principles into concrete results and responding with pragmatism and vision to the structural challenges that still persist” in the region.
According to Lezcano, one of the central challenges for Paraguay is overcoming structural asymmetries between the States Parties to Mercosur.
“This is not an abstract notion, but an economic and geographic reality that limits our development and conditions our competitiveness”, he said, stressing that the country’s Mediterranean condition imposes additional costs that make exports more expensive and restrict participation in regional value chains.
The meeting, in Foz do Iguaçu, this Friday, was mostly closed to the press.
On Saturday (20), Brazil is expected to pass the baton of the bloc’s Pro Tempore Presidency to Paraguay, during the 67th Summit of Heads of State of Mercosur and Associated States, also in Foz do Iguaçu.
