Lula gives the green light to the text of the agreement between Mercosur and the EU

Last year, Mercosur was also about to accept the pact. But the Peronists chose not to endorse the text, given Milei’s victory and the new government that would take power in Buenos Aires, days later. The order at Itamaraty and at Palácio do Planalto, therefore, is not to create expectations.

It would also remain to wait for a green light from the president of the European Commission, Ursula van der Leyen. At a technical level, the process is already completed and, after internal consultations in Brussels, it would be willing to embark on announcing the understanding during the Mercosur summit, if there is no new obstacle on the part of the Europeans.

The meeting between heads of state takes place in Montevideo, on Thursday and Friday this week.

Even without a conclusion being reached this week, negotiators on both sides have already signaled that they will continue the consultation process. The decision of both Mercosur and the EU is not to raise expectations or set deadlines, at the risk of leading the process to an alleged failure.

Concluding the agreement, however, does not mean it would come into force immediately. The treaty will have to pass through the Council of Europe and the European Parliament.

The Brazilian government’s prediction is that this stage will require an intense process of convincing on the part of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva himself, mainly to attract countries such as France and Poland, which are highly protectionist, to join the package.