Published 12/20/2025 12:21
President Lula spoke this Saturday (20) during the 67th Mercosur Summit, in Foz do Iguaçu (PR). At the meeting, the Brazilian government hands over the temporary presidency of the bloc to Paraguay.
In his speech, Lula regretted that the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union was not signed during this South American Summit meeting. Later, at a press conference, the Brazilian leader was categorical in saying that France alone will not be able to stop the agreement.
“Since 2023, we have worked to ensure that the agreement contributes to the economic development of Mercosur, without affecting industrial policies and incentives for innovation and without harming sensitive sectors. We accept the adoption of quotas on agricultural products and the establishment of a safeguards mechanism, protecting our right to reciprocity”, Lula told the other South American leaders.
“We reached an understanding that was beneficial to both sides. We had, in our hands, the opportunity to convey an important message to the world in defense of multilateralism and to strengthen our strategic position in an increasingly competitive global scenario. But, unfortunately, Europe has not yet made up its mind”, he added.
Read more: Signing of the Mercosur-European Union Agreement is postponed until January
According to the Brazilian president, European leaders asked for more time to discuss additional agricultural protection measures. He indicated that he received a letter in which the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council express their expectation that the agreement will be approved in January, putting an end to 26 years of negotiations.
As already highlighted by Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, the South American bloc has other demands than the European Union, a fact reinforced by Lula. Among these agendas are the expansion of an agreement with India, negotiations with Canada and the United Arab Emirates, partnerships with Japan, Vietnam and Panama, as well as updates with Colombia and Ecuador.
After the speech at the summit, in contact with journalists in Foz do Iguaçu, the president noted that, alone, the French will not have the strength to block the agreement.
“Se [o acordo] is ready to sign and only France is missing, according to Úrsula Von Der Leyen [presidente da Comissão Europeia] eo Antonio Costa [primeiro-ministro de Portugal]there will be no possibility of France, alone, not allowing the agreement”, explained Lula, who expects the Paraguayan presidency to be signed in January, with Santiago Peña.
South America
In another part of the speech, President Lula left a message against attacks on multilateralism by highlighting that building a prosperous and peaceful South America is the only appropriate doctrine, without ever giving up sovereignty.
Regarding the tension between the United States and Venezuela, Lula condemned any arms escalation: “An armed intervention in Venezuela would be a humanitarian catastrophe for the hemisphere and a dangerous precedent for the world.”
The president also highlighted that Brazilian democracy survived the harshest attack suffered since the end of the dictatorship, in reference to January 8: “Those responsible for the attempted coup on January 8, 2023 were investigated, tried and convicted according to due legal process. For the first time in its history, Brazil came to terms with the past”, he stressed.
On the issue of public security, a common theme among the bloc’s countries, the Brazilian leader pointed to the signing of the agreement against human trafficking and the creation of the commission to implement a common strategy against transnational organized crime.
According to Lula, the Brazilian government in agreement with the Uruguayan government will “propose the convening of a meeting of ministers of Justice and Public Security of the Brasília Consensus to discuss how to strengthen South American cooperation in combating organized crime.”
Another fundamental agenda highlighted is the fight against violence against women: “I sent, yesterday, for ratification to the National Congress, an agreement that will allow women benefiting from protective measures in one country in the bloc to have the same protection in other countries. I would like to propose to Paraguay, which assumes the presidency of the bloc today, that we work to create a major Mercosur pact to end feminicide and violence against women”, stated Lula.
Read more: US surrounds Venezuela with greatest military power ever seen in Latin America
The possibility of South America being at the forefront of the energy transition was also discussed. To this end, it is necessary to advance regulatory convergence, which involves “critical ores, vast water, solar and wind potential, in addition to consolidated experience in the area of biofuels”, as well as the completion of the South American Integration Routes program (works to improve highways, waterways, railways, ports and airports).
“Regional integration will only become concrete if it has an impact on people’s lives”, praised President Lula.
Lula also celebrated the construction of the Integration Bridge, between Foz do Iguaçu and Presidente Franco, in Paraguay, inaugurated on Friday (19): “In a world where building walls seems easier than building bridges, this example deserves to be remembered”, said the president, while also remembering the milestones in the construction of Mercosur.
Finally, he recalled a sad memory for the Southern Cone, the 50th anniversary of the infamous “Operation Condor”.
“This terrible episode in our history has taught us a valuable lesson. If dictatorial regimes have worked together to persecute their citizens, it is up to democratically elected governments to work together to guarantee a better life for everyone, based on the promotion and protection of human rights. Even if some are nostalgic for former dictators, we must insist on moving forward, never backwards”, he warned.
Although not directly, the message serves supporters of Augusto Pinochet’s Chilean dictatorship, who now feel represented with the election of José Antonio Kast.
Source: vermelho.org.br
