National Congress tries to vote quickly on Mercosur agreement

“The Executive Branch needs to send the agreement to (President of the Chamber) Hugo Motta, who will have it processed by the Brazilian delegation in Parlasul (Mercosur Parliament). From there, the processing will begin in the other committees of the Chamber of Deputies and, later, in the Senate. Motta should meet with the leaders at the end of this month”, said the senator, as quoted by Senate Agency.

The parliamentarian met with the EU ambassador to Brazil, Marian Schuegraf. According to the senator, the presidents of the Chamber, Hugo Motta, and the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, intend to speed up the rite as soon as the Executive formalizes sending the text to the Legislature.

Processing and monitoring

The approval rite will follow the regulatory steps in both Houses. Initially, the federal government must send the text to the Chamber of Deputies. After passing through Parlasul and thematic committees, the matter goes to a vote in the Plenary.

If approved by deputies, the text will be analyzed by the Federal Senate. To ensure rigorous monitoring of each phase, Nelsinho Trad confirmed that he will propose a subcommittee dedicated exclusively to monitoring the confirmation of the document as soon as it reaches the reviewing House. The objective is to guarantee predictability and real access to new markets for Brazilian producers.

Government strategy

The Brazilian government decided, also this Thursday (22), to maintain internal progress to provisionally apply the agreement, even after the European Parliament had sent the text to the bloc’s Court of Justice the day before. Although the judicial assessment could delay entry into force for months, Planalto is betting on the process in Congress to sustain, at least, a provisional validity.

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who is also Minister of Development, Industry, Commerce and Services (MDIC), stated that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will forward the proposal to internalize the agreement to Congress. According to Alckmin, the speed of the Brazilian Legislature could influence the European Commission to adopt the provisional application while the issue is discussed in European justice.

Economic impact

With more than 700 million consumers, the treaty creates one of the largest free trade zones in the world, providing for the elimination of tariffs on more than 90% of trade between the two blocs.

In practice, the European Union will be able to increase exports of vehicles, machinery, wines and liquors to South America. In return, Mercosur products, such as beef, sugar, rice, honey and soy, will have easier access to the European market.