Lula receives Mattarella, reiterates interest in EU-Mercosur agreement

Brasilia, July 15 (EFE).- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received on Monday his Italian counterpart, Sergio Mattarella, who insisted before him on the need to conclude the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (…) although he made it clear that this depends on the community bloc.

Lula reiterated “Brazil’s interest in reaching as soon as possible an agreement with the European Union” that would be “balanced and contribute to the development” of the two regions, but he made clear that “the progress of the negotiations depends on the Europeans resolving their internal differences.”

He also renewed his criticism of “unilateral decisions” that could “affect Brazilian producers,” referring to European demands on environmental issues that keep negotiations at a standstill, despite the consensus reached in 2019.

These demands of the bloc have not been well received by Mercosur, which consists of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and now Bolivia, which nevertheless insisted, at its last summit held this month in Asuncion, on resuming negotiations once the European parliamentary elections are over.

Mattarella agreed with Lula and stressed the “historic nature of this agreement” about which he said “it is necessary to reach a decision quickly”, because it would be “beneficial” for Mercosur, the European Union and “for the world”.

The two presidents also reiterated their call for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, and highlighted the coincidences between Italy and Brazil regarding the need to promote economic development alongside global measures against climate change.

Likewise, they expressed their appreciation for the ongoing negotiations within the G20, which Brazil chairs this year, and the G7, to strengthen the fight against hunger and poverty in the world.

Mattarella will be in Brazil all this week, and in addition to Brasilia, he will visit the cities of Porto Alegre, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Salvador, before returning to Rome next Saturday.

In any case, they will hold meetings with the Italian colony, which has a population in Brazil, among the indigenous people and their descendants, of about 35 million people, and is one of the largest colonies in the country.