Lula says Brazil is ready to sign Mercosur-EU after agenda with Sánchez

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva received, this Wednesday (6), the president of the government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, on an official visit at the Palácio do Planalto, and denied that the trade agreement between Mercosur and the European Union has gone “to back” and said that Brazil is “ready” to sign the terms.

“We are still going to sign this agreement for the good of Mercosur and for the good of the European Union. The European Union needs this agreement. Brazil needs this agreement. It is no longer a question of wanting or not wanting, of liking or not liking. We need to make this agreement politically, economically and geographically, we need to send a signal to the world that we want to move forward. That’s why I’m optimistic,” said Lula.

The Spanish Prime Minister also stated that the agreement is positive for both blocs. “We will work together to reach this agreement”, said Pedro Sánchez. The Spaniard stated that there is a “duty” to conclude the negotiation.

Drafted more than two decades ago, the proposed agreement has undergone a series of revisions and requirements over the past few years, and approached a conclusion last year.

However, the European Union has been under pressure from farmers — mainly in France — opposed to the alliance, under the argument that there would be “unfair competition” with the entry of goods from countries like Brazil.

Lula also stated that he had received information that gives “peace of mind”, because the European Union, according to the president, does not need France to close the agreement.

Lula and Sánchez also discussed the crisis in the Middle East, the conflict in Ukraine, negotiations on the Mercosur-European Union agreement and the reform of global governance institutions.