OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF THE MEBF COUNCIL
Montevideo, 8 December 2009
Ten years ago, the EU and MERCOSUR business communities joined forces to create the MERCOSUR-EUROPEAN Business Forum, a place to exchange and discuss ideas to promote trade and business relations. Its objective is to stimulate negotiations for a free trade agreement between both regions and to support the process by creating joint proposals that serve as working material for the negotiators.
During this time, the negotiators and other players participating in the process have faced difficulties and changes in political and economic scenarios that have impeded reaching an agreement. Over the years, the MEBF has published several Official Declarations with specific recommendations regarding all relevant areas and always with a clear message: business representatives stress the importance of achieving a successful, ambitious and balanced free trade agreement that brings prosperity to the citizens and societies of both regions.
We firmly believe that the political and economic reasons that started this process are even more important today than before. In addition to the growing importance of EU-MERCOSUR trade relations, political and economic interests of both regions are increasing. The EU continues to be MERCOSUR's most important investor and, at the same time, large MERCOSUR companies are increasing investments in the EU. This process not only contributes to the expansion of mutual trade, but also to the incorporation of other issues on the bilateral agenda, such as sustainable development.
We are now seeing some hopeful signs for an agreement: recent declarations from top officials favoring a return to the negotiating table; the inclusion of the issue on the agenda of the upcoming Spanish presidency of the EU; and a generalized consensus that free and open trade relations are a fundamental ingredient to combat the current economic crisis.
We need political leadership at the highest level and the commitment and flexibility to achieve an FTA that takes into account and reduces the development level differences between regions and among all countries involved, and that encourages proper conditions in terms of market access and trust that investors and exporters demand, such as the elimination of NTBs and subsidies. Both regions need to find creative solutions for issues that are deadlocking negotiations and make a renewed effort to reach an agreement.
Once again, MEBF members emphasize their willingness to collaborate and to establish stronger ties with negotiating teams to accompany the development process and provide useful and relevant information. We encourage negotiating teams to engage our help to analyze the current international market and economic situation, to re-launch the negotiation process and to achieve the results that companies of both regions need, in line with the objectives defined by the G20.
We also encourage governments of both sides of the Atlantic to take advantage of the unique and exceptional conditions resulting from the upcoming Spanish presidency of the EU.
Montevideo, 8 December 2009
Iñaki Urdangarín Carlos Mariani Bittencourt
MEBF Co-President MEBF Co-President
