Paraguay announced that it would not support negotiations with the EU

The Paraguayan president, Santiago Peña, stated that they will not support the negotiations of a trade agreement with the European Union (EU) after assuming the presidency of the Southern Common Market Summit (MERCOSUR).

In a press conference at the presidential residence, Peña announced that he conveyed his opinion to the president of MERCOSUR, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, to end negotiations with the EU, otherwise this decision would be made during the mandate .

Peña emphasized that Paraguay is investigating other options outside the EU and noted that they will announce this at the MERCOSUR summit that will be organized in his country on December 6.

Stating that there may be an agreement with Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, Peña said: “I will be resolutely dedicated to reaching agreements with other parts of the world in the coming period. “I think we will reach agreements very quickly.” he said.

Peña maintained that after 25 years of negotiations with the EU, the time has come to “decide” and evaluated: “Paraguay has a very strong integration capacity, we are the most open country in Latin America, we trade with almost all the countries in the world. “

HE SAID: ‘WE WERE DISAPPOINTED’

Peña, who gave an interview to the British newspaper Financial Times, stated that trade negotiations with the EU have been taking place for more than 20 years, but have suffered serious disappointments.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met with the leaders of Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Mexico from June 13 to 16 to discuss the EU-MERCOSUR free trade agreement. (AA)