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O MEBF com suas conferencias, como de 2003 em Bras\u00edlia (Brasil), participaram mais de 350 empresas e associa\u00e7\u00f5es importantes do mercado que foi presidido\/organizado por Ingo Pl\u00f6ger, co-chairman Mercosul, e por Guy Doll\u00e9, co-chairman Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia.<\/p>

Desde a sua primeira plen\u00e1ria, o MEBF recebeu a aten\u00e7\u00e3o de importantes representa\u00e7\u00f5es pol\u00edticas e empresariais, assim como v\u00e1rios ministros de economia de pa\u00edses da Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia e Mercosul. Todas as Confer\u00eancias Plen\u00e1rias foram marcadas por documentos finais que contribu\u00edram em acordos oficiais entre as regi\u00f5es. Esta edi\u00e7\u00e3o n\u00e3o foi diferente.<\/p>

O f\u00f3rum recebeu altos membros do Conselho e do Parlamento Europeu, da Comiss\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia e dos governos dos pa\u00edses participantes do Mercosul. Entre eles estavam: o presidente do Brasil, Lu\u00eds In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva, o presidente do Governo da Espanha, Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Aznar, o Ministro de assuntos Interiores da Argentina, An\u00edbal Fern\u00e1ndez, Carlos Lessa, presidente do BNDES, M\u00e1rcio Fortes, ministro interino do Minist\u00e9rio do Desenvolvimento, Ind\u00fastria e Com\u00e9rcio, Celso Amorim, ministro do Minist\u00e9rio das Rela\u00e7\u00f5es Exteriores, Alberto Navarro, embaixador da Comiss\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia no Brasil, Roberto Abdenur, embaixador do Brasil na \u00c1ustria e os comiss\u00e1rios europeus, Erkki Liikanen e Karl Falkenberg. A confer\u00eancia foi encerrada com a assinatura da\u00a0Declara\u00e7\u00e3o de Bras\u00edlia,\u00a0<\/strong>que incluiu dezenas de recomenda\u00e7\u00f5es conjuntas de representantes de empresas, associa\u00e7\u00f5es empresariais e organiza\u00e7\u00f5es do Mercosul e da Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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As propostas \u2013 de curto, m\u00e9dio e longo prazos \u2013 referem-se ao acesso a mercados, investimentos e servi\u00e7os, sendo entregues \u00e0s autoridades governamentais das duas regi\u00f5es. Entre os principais pontos discutidos est\u00e3o:<\/p>
\u2013 notadamente a agricultura \u00e9 o tema mais cr\u00edtico nas rela\u00e7\u00f5es entre os dois blocos. O acesso limitado ao mercado europeu e os subs\u00eddios ao setor agr\u00edcola restringem as possibilidades de exporta\u00e7\u00f5es de produtos agroindustriais do Mercosul.<\/p>
\u2013 as negocia\u00e7\u00f5es de livre com\u00e9rcio entre Mercosul e UE devem prever a reciprocidade assim\u00e9trica na desgrava\u00e7\u00e3o tarif\u00e1ria, como ocorreu nos acordos com o M\u00e9xico e a \u00c1frica do Sul.<\/p>
\u2013 as manifesta\u00e7\u00f5es de inten\u00e7\u00e3o de consolidar e aprofundar a Uni\u00e3o Aduaneira devem ser efetivadas.<\/p>
\u2013 solicita\u00e7\u00e3o do MEBF aos governos que respondam formalmente \u00e0s recomenda\u00e7\u00f5es apresentadas na Declara\u00e7\u00e3o de Madri, de maio de 2002, que cont\u00e9m sugest\u00f5es de consenso para lidar com temas que permanecem cr\u00edticos nas negocia\u00e7\u00f5es como regras de origem, tratamento especial e diferenciado, defesa comercial, admiss\u00e3o tempor\u00e1ria de bens, e ind\u00fastria nascente. O MEBF espera obter essas respostas durante a pr\u00f3xima reuni\u00e3o do Comit\u00ea de Negocia\u00e7\u00f5es Birregionais.<\/p>
\u2013 o MEBF apresenta, na Declara\u00e7\u00e3o de Bras\u00edlia, novas medidas de facilita\u00e7\u00e3o de neg\u00f3cios na Declara\u00e7\u00e3o de Bras\u00edlia. Elas abrangem a \u00e1rea de procedimentos aduaneiros, com propostas concretas para agilizar o despacho de mercadorias e tamb\u00e9m incorporam uma nova \u00e1rea muito importante para as rela\u00e7\u00f5es birregionais que s\u00e3o os investimentos diretos. Medidas para simplificar os procedimentos administrativos para os investimentos no curto prazo s\u00e3o apresentadas. Uma Confer\u00eancia para propor um plano de a\u00e7\u00e3o nessa \u00e1rea deve ser organizada em breve.<\/p>
\u2013 os empres\u00e1rios solicitaram ao Mercosul que apresente sua oferta para a liberaliza\u00e7\u00e3o de compras governamentais, uma vez que a Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia j\u00e1 apresentou a sua.<\/p>
\u2013 na \u00e1rea de servi\u00e7os, o MEBF sugere aos negociadores que definam a cobertura do acordo, que deve ser abrangente e incluir o tratamento de servi\u00e7os de audiovisual e transportes mar\u00edtimo e a\u00e9reo.<\/p>
\u2013 devem ser melhor aproveitadas as importantes oportunidades que existem para projetos na \u00e1rea de \u201cClean Development Mechanisms\u201d, que envolvem cr\u00e9ditos por emiss\u00e3o de carbono em desenvolvimento no Mercosul na \u00e1rea de recursos renov\u00e1veis e reflorestamento.<\/p>
Para os empres\u00e1rios envolvidos nas discuss\u00f5es dos acordos birregionais, os resultados da s\u00e3o extremamente positivos e devem influenciar as negocia\u00e7\u00f5es do Mercosul e Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia, realizada no m\u00eas de novembro em Bruxelas.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mercosul<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mercosul, trampolim para o desenvolvimento<\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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A Rep\u00fablica Argentina, a Rep\u00fablica Federativa do Brasil, a Rep\u00fablica do Paraguai e a Rep\u00fablica Oriental do Uruguai assinaram em 26 de mar\u00e7o de 1991 o\u00a0Tratado de Assun\u00e7\u00e3o<\/a>, criando o Mercado Comum do Sul,\u00a0 MERCOSUL<\/a>, que constitui o projeto internacional mais relevante com o qual est\u00e3o comprometidos esses pa\u00edses.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Decorridos mais de 10 anos da assinatura desse tratado, o MERCOSUL representa hoje um agrupamento regional economicamente vi\u00e1vel e politicamente est\u00e1vel que tem sabido aproveitar os ensinamentos e as oportunidades da globaliza\u00e7\u00e3o e, assim, atra\u00eddo, cada vez mais, o interesse de todo o mundo.
Os quatro pa\u00edses do MERCOSUL compartilham seus em busca da consolida\u00e7\u00e3o da democracia, da seguran\u00e7a jur\u00eddica, do combate \u00e0 pobreza e do desenvolvimento econ\u00f4mico e social com eq\u00fcidade. Por esse motivo, o acordo \u00e9 antes de tudo um trampolim para o desenvolvimento da regi\u00e3o como um todo e amplia\u00e7\u00e3o das dimens\u00f5es dos respectivos mercados nacionais por meio da integra\u00e7\u00e3o.
O foco primordial dessa iniciativa est\u00e1 vinculado \u00e0 livre circula\u00e7\u00e3o de bens, aos servi\u00e7os e fatores produtivos, ao estabelecimento de uma tarifa externa comum e \u00e0 ado\u00e7\u00e3o de uma pol\u00edtica comercial comum, \u00e0 coordena\u00e7\u00e3o de pol\u00edticas macroecon\u00f4micas e setoriais e \u00e0 harmoniza\u00e7\u00e3o de legisla\u00e7\u00f5es nas \u00e1reas pertinentes.
Tr\u00eas anos depois do Tratado de Assun\u00e7\u00e3o, mas um passo foi dado para a realiza\u00e7\u00e3o desse projeto. Em dezembro de 1994, na Reuni\u00e3o de C\u00fapula de Presidente, em Ouro Preto, aprovou-se um Protocolo Adicional \u2013 o\u00a0 Protocolo de Ouro Preto<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 pelo qual se estabelece a estrutura institucional do MERCOSUL, dotando-o de personalidade jur\u00eddica internacional.\u00a0
A partir de 1996, com a\u00a0 Declara\u00e7\u00e3o Presidencial sobre Compromisso Democr\u00e1tico no MERCOSUL<\/a>\u00a0e o\u00a0 Protocolo de Ades\u00e3o da Bol\u00edvia e do Chile<\/a>, a pol\u00edtica comercial comum avan\u00e7ou com a ado\u00e7\u00e3o de ferramentas que regem a zona de livre com\u00e9rcio e a uni\u00e3o aduaneira que caracterizam hoje o MERCOSUL, encabe\u00e7ados pela Tarifa Externa Comum.<\/p>
Pol\u00edtica<\/strong><\/p>
O MERCOSUL representa o mais importante acordo pol\u00edtico alcan\u00e7ado na regi\u00e3o. Sua \u201crede de seguran\u00e7a pol\u00edtica\u201d gera as regras do jogo necess\u00e1rias para que as inter-rela\u00e7\u00f5es econ\u00f4micas e comerciais existentes sejam desenvolvidas plenamente. Al\u00e9m disso, o aprofundamento de v\u00ednculos econ\u00f4micos e pol\u00edticos permitem uma a\u00e7\u00e3o conjunta, evitando fragmenta\u00e7\u00f5es na regi\u00e3o da Am\u00e9rica do Sul.

Um novo cen\u00e1rio<\/strong><\/p>
Elaborado como uma uni\u00e3o aduaneira, o Mercosul promoveu mudan\u00e7as econ\u00f4micas profundas na regi\u00e3o: compromisso conjunto das pol\u00edticas comerciais nacionais; cria\u00e7\u00e3o de uma tarifa externa comum; acordo para eventuais modifica\u00e7\u00f5es dos n\u00edveis de produ\u00e7\u00e3o dos setores produtivos; fortalecimento dos processos de abertura e inser\u00e7\u00e3o nos mercados mundiais; inclus\u00e3o da regi\u00e3o em uma agenda estrat\u00e9gica do com\u00e9rcio internacional; investimentos nacionais e estrangeiros.
Uma das grandes virtudes do MERCOSUL \u00e9 ter conseguido que o processo de negocia\u00e7\u00e3o fosse realizado sobre bases realistas, razo\u00e1veis e flex\u00edveis \u00e0s realidades dos quatro pa\u00edses. As negocia\u00e7\u00f5es desenvolvidas durante os \u00faltimos meses e os acordos alcan\u00e7ados p\u00f5em em evid\u00eancia esta afirma\u00e7\u00e3o. Todos os pa\u00edses buscam defender seus principais interesses e, ao mesmo tempo, precisam levar em considera\u00e7\u00e3o os problemas e realidades dos demais s\u00f3cios.<\/p>
Isso permitiu aos seus pa\u00edses-membro um exerc\u00edcio de negocia\u00e7\u00e3o \u00e1rduo, transparente e solid\u00e1rio que s\u00f3 trouxe oportunidades de desenvolvimento a todos os envolvidos. Afinal, o Mercosul manteve uma agenda particularmente de negocia\u00e7\u00f5es comerciais com terceiros pa\u00edses ou grupos de pa\u00edses, uma vez que o pr\u00f3prio acordo \u00e9 resultado de uma concep\u00e7\u00e3o de iniciativa aberta ao exterior.
Para mais informa\u00e7\u00f5es, acesse o site:\u00a0http:\/\/www.mercosur.int<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>
\u00a0A integra\u00e7\u00e3o significa pol\u00edticas comuns\u00a0<\/strong>
Desde a d\u00e9cada de 50, a Europa formulava maneiras de atuar conjuntamente diante da crescente complexidade do cen\u00e1rio econ\u00f4mico. Nos anos seguintes houve continuamente a cria\u00e7\u00e3o de acordos e pol\u00edticas que resultassem em maior coopera\u00e7\u00e3o entre os pa\u00edses do continente.
Finalmente, em 1992, o Tratado de Maastricht foi assinado pelos pa\u00edses membros do Parlamento Europeu (criado em 1967) dando origem \u00e0 Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia (EU). Sua integra\u00e7\u00e3o econ\u00f4mica e pol\u00edtica gerou decis\u00f5es conjuntas sobre pol\u00edticas comuns em uma gama muito ampla de campos, da agricultura \u00e0 cultura, do consumo \u00e0 compet\u00eancia, do meio ambiente e energia ao transporte e o com\u00e9rcio.
No princ\u00edpio, a aten\u00e7\u00e3o centrava-se em solu\u00e7\u00f5es que atendessem \u00e0s necessidades de setores como carv\u00e3o, a\u00e7o e agricultura. Com os anos surgiram outros aspectos frutos de mudan\u00e7as no cen\u00e1rio mundial, tanto no tocante \u00e0 economia e pol\u00edtica, quanto no referente ao desenvolvimento cient\u00edfico e social. Por exemplo, o objetivo da pol\u00edtica agr\u00edcola j\u00e1 n\u00e3o \u00e9 produzir tantos alimentos quanto seja poss\u00edvel do ponto de vista econ\u00f4mico, e sim apoiar m\u00e9todos de cultivo que resultem em uma produ\u00e7\u00e3o de alta qualidade e que protejam o meio ambiente. Ali\u00e1s, a necessidade de prote\u00e7\u00e3o do meio ambiente \u00e9 agora considerada em todas as pol\u00edticas da UE.
Suas rela\u00e7\u00f5es com outros pa\u00edses colocaram em pauta acordos comerciais internacionais, o desenvolvimento de uma Pol\u00edtica Externa e de Seguran\u00e7a Comum, al\u00e9m de um fundo de ajuda para outros pa\u00edses.

O mercado \u00fanico<\/strong>
Eliminar todos os obst\u00e1culos ao com\u00e9rcio e converter o \u201cmercado comum\u201d em algo \u00fanico e aut\u00eantico onde mercadorias, servi\u00e7os, pessoas e capital pudessem mover-se livremente n\u00e3o foi tarefa f\u00e1cil. O mercado \u00fanico completou-se formalmente no final de 1992 ainda que, algumas quest\u00f5es como a cria\u00e7\u00e3o de um mercado \u00fanico de servi\u00e7os financeiros, n\u00e3o tenha sido plenamente alcan\u00e7ado. Durante os anos 90 foi mais f\u00e1cil para as pessoas deslocarem-se pela Europa, pois os controles de passaportes e alf\u00e2ndegas foram suprimidos na maior parte das fronteiras internas da UE. Uma conseq\u00fc\u00eancia foi uma maior mobilidade para seus cidad\u00e3os; deste 1987, por exemplo, mais de 1 milh\u00e3o de jovens europeus t\u00eam realizado estudos no estrangeiro com o apoio da UE.<\/p>
A moeda \u00fanica: o euro no seu bolso<\/strong><\/p>
Em 1992, a UE decidiu empreender-se em uma uni\u00e3o econ\u00f4mica e monet\u00e1ria (UEM) que supunha a introdu\u00e7\u00e3o de uma moeda europ\u00e9ia \u00fanica gerenciada por um Banco Central Europeu. Essa moeda (o euro) transformou-se em realidade em 1 de janeiro de 2002, quando substituiu as moedas nacionais em 12 dos 15 pa\u00edses da Uni\u00e3o (B\u00e9lgica, Alemanha, Gr\u00e9cia, Espanha, Fran\u00e7a, Irlanda, It\u00e1lia, Luxemburgo, Pa\u00edses Baixos, \u00c1ustria, Portugal e Finl\u00e2ndia).<\/p>
A fam\u00edlia cresce<\/strong>
J\u00e1 faziam parte do grupo interessado em criar um bloco econ\u00f4mico, Alemanha, B\u00e9lgica, Fran\u00e7a, It\u00e1lia, Luxemburgo e Pa\u00edses Baixos. Mas a fam\u00edlia cresceu em tamanho mediante sucessivas ondas de ades\u00f5es. Dinamarca, Irlanda e Reino Unido uniram-se em 1973, seguidos pela Gr\u00e9cia em 1981, Espanha e Portugal em 1986. Ap\u00f3s a cria\u00e7\u00e3o formal da Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia, em 1992, \u00c1ustria, Finl\u00e2ndia e Su\u00e9cia aderiram no ano de 1995.\u00a0
A EU prepara-se agora para acolher outros dez pa\u00edses da Europa Oriental e Meridional: Chipre, Eslov\u00e1quia, Eslov\u00eania, Est\u00f4nia, Hungria, Let\u00f4nia, Litu\u00e2nia, Malta, Pol\u00f4nia e a Rep\u00fablica Checa, pa\u00edses cuja ades\u00e3o est\u00e1 prevista para 2004.
Bulg\u00e1ria e Rom\u00eania aguardam para alguns anos ap\u00f3s e a Turquia \u00e9 tamb\u00e9m candidata.\u00a0
Para garantir que a UE possa continuar funcionando eficazmente com 25 membros ou mais, seu sistema de tomada de decis\u00f5es deve ter mais fluidez. Por isso o Tratado de Niza, que entrou em vigor em 1 de fevereiro de 2003, fixa novas normas sobre o tamanho das institui\u00e7\u00f5es da UE e sua forma de trabalho.<\/p>
Fonte deste texto: antigo site da Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia:\u00a0http:\/\/europa.eu.int<\/a><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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PERSPECTIVAS DE LAS NEGOCIACIONES ENTRE LA UNI\u00d3N EUROPEA Y EL MERCOSUR -2017<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>
EU MERCOSUL APRIL 2000 BUENOS AIRES<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>
EU MERCOSUL JUNE 2000 BRUSSELS<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
EU MERCOSUL NOVEMBER 2000 BRASILIA<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
EU MERCOSUL MARC 2001 BRUSSELS<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
EU MERCOSUL JULY 2001 MONTEVIDEO<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
EU MERCOSUL OCTOBER 2001 BRUSSELS<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
EU MERCOSUL APRIL 2002 BUENOS AIRES<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I<\/strong> Declaration Madrid MEBF May 2002<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>
II<\/strong> Declaration Brasilia MEBF Aug 2003<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>
III<\/strong> Declaration Luxembourg MEBF Jan 2005<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>
IV<\/strong> Declaration Buenos Aires MEBF Nov 2006<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>
V<\/strong> Declaration Lisbon MEBF Oct 2007<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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I Plenary Conference, Rio de Janeiro<\/h2>
With the signing of the Rio Declaration on February 23, 1999 by the three Co-Chairmen J\u00fcrgen Strube, Roberto Teixeira da Costa and Carlos Bulgheroni, the first Conference of the Mercosur European Union Business Forum (MEBF) was concluded.\u00a0More than 100 top-ranking businessmen\u00a0<\/strong>from the EU and Mercosur had gathered for three days in Rio de Janeiro to discuss and adjust opinions on existing trade barriers and possible business facilitation measures between the two blocs.<\/p>
The\u00a0political perception<\/strong>\u00a0of the business-driven initiative and its inaugural Conference was impressive. The presidents from three Mercosur countries,Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay participated in the opening session. President Menem, who phoned in sick, sent his foreign minister to replace him. Eight other ministers from Mercosur participated in the conference in the following days. The EU Commission was represented by Industry-Commissioner Martin Bangemann.<\/p>
Political discussions and speaches focused on the building of a free trade area between the EU and Mercosur and the\u00a0opening of the EU agricultural market.<\/strong><\/p>
President Cardoso and his two colleagues insisted on a liberalisation of this protectionist sector in the EU. Commissioner Bangemann supported their concerns and expressed his strong believe that the Commission would obtain the\u00a0mandate<\/strong>\u00a0from EU member states to start\u00a0negotiations for a free trade zone\u00a0<\/strong>until the EU\/LA Summitt in June.<\/p>
The business community resumes these concerns in the\u00a0\u201cpolitical chapter\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0of the \u201cRio Declaration\u201d, regarding them as a basis for the realisation of most of their recommendations. The MEBF welcomes the intention of the German EU presidency \u201cto use its best efforts to obtain a mandate for the European Commission as a first step for negotiating a free trade zone with Mercosur\u201d. MEBF also supports the rules and principles of the WTO and expresses the necessity of bilateral and regional agreements being in conformity with WTO rules.<\/p>
Due to the numerous participation of top-level politicians, the Rio Conference has evoced a huge media echo in the member states of Mercosur, the EU, and other important international media.(CNN, BBC, etc.) The press covered the whole 3-day event with detailed reports about business and government meetings on their front pages and a full-length broadcast of the Opening Session on Brazilian National Television.<\/p>
Centrepiece of the three-day business meeting were the\u00a0recommendations of the Rio Declaration<\/strong>\u00a0which businessmen had concluded in the meetings of the\u00a0three Working Groups\u00a0<\/strong>Market Access, Investment \/ Privatisation and Services, and which ask for quick consideration and implementation by the administrations of the two blocs.<\/p>
In the Rio Declaration, the Working Group \u201cMarket Access\u201d particularly pledges for facilitation in the fields of customs procedures and trade. Other priority issues are rules of origin, intellectual property rights and trade defense instruments. A closer co-operation in standards and certifications and the signing of Mutual Recognition Agreements is emphasised. The group has identified certain key sectors which should elaborate specific recommendations within the follow-up work to the Conference. (Automobile industries, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, tires, telecommunications, confectionary, agribusiness, forest products, pulp and paper, capital goods and ceramics.<\/p>
The Working Group Investment\/Privatisation has identified recommendations in the fields of investment conditions, infrastructure, participation in the privatisation process, company co-operation, technical and educational co-operation and free movement of personnel. The discussions on government procurement will be continued.<\/p>
In the field of Services, the Working Group presented proposals on business facilitation in the field of Information Society and Electronic Commerce. MEBF has initially identified the following key sectors that constitute a priority for analysis: telecommunication, energy, financial services, transportation and tourism.<\/p><\/div>
\u00a0II Plenary Conference, Mainz<\/h2>
Nine months after the Rio Conference, the EU\/Mercosur business community reconvened in Mainz on November 21-23, 1999 for the second Conference of the Mercosur\/EU Business Forum (MEBF).\u00a0More than 60 business leaders were joined by around 40 high ranking government officials from both regions.<\/strong>\u00a0The purpose of the meeting was to analyse progress of the MEBF process and to discuss the further course of action in the Working Groups. The final document of the MEBF Conference, the \u201cMainz Statement\u201d, can be found on this Website under \u201cDeclarations\u201d.<\/p>
The Mainz Conference was held on the eve of the negotiations on the EU\/Mercosur\/Chile Interregional Association Agreement. During the previous months, MEBF had made a strong contribution towards launching these negotiations. \u201cMEBF is ready to take a pro-active role in the negotiations. We urge governments to extend their negotiating mandate. We have no time to lose. Our common goal of establishing a free trade area must be accomplished in due course\u201d, Mr. J\u00fcrgen Strube,European Co-Chairman of the MEBF emphasised at a meeting with leading government officials, including the\u00a0Uruguayan Foreign Minister Didier Opertti (Mercosur Presidency), the Finish Foreign Trade Minister Kimmo Sasi, European Commissioner Pedro Solbes, Brazilian Deputy Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade Milton Seligman and the Argentinan Under-Secretary of Foreign Trade Jorge Campbell.<\/strong><\/p>
MEBF reaffirmed the importance of a strong commitment from all partners involved in the negotiations to cover all sectors, including agribusiness. Businessmen launched a set of\u00a0\u201cWorking Principles\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0in Mainz, which shall enable the forum to cover all aspects of the negotiations in a parallel process. It was agreed that only through the elaboration of sectoral recommendations within the MEBF, the business community could have a feasible impact on the technical working groups of the negotiations. The business leaders reiterated that MEBF should follow a comprehensive approach. The Argentinan Co-Chairman Carlos Bulgheroni stressed: \u201cWe should be forward looking and avoid to exclude any issue from our agenda which does not appear relevant at present, but might be of strategic importance in the future\u201d.<\/p>
The three Working Groups of MEBF Market Access, Investment\/Privatisation and Services decided in Mainz their future working agenda, the priorities for the bi-regional negotiations and a timetable for their future work.<\/p>
In the\u00a0Mainz Statement<\/a>, which was signed by the three MEBF Chairmen, MEBF also sends a clear message to the WTO Seattle Ministerial. Businessmen are calling for a comprehensive and balanced trade round with an agenda including agriculture,services, market access, foreign investments and trade facilitation, which would provide a better basis for all WTO members to benefit, developed and developing countries alike.<\/p>
Brazilian Co-Chairman Roberto Teixeira da Costa stressed that the Mainz Conference had shown the growing importance of the business forum, which had only started 18 months ago. \u201cWe are determined to move this process forward and give our input in order to shape the face of a future free trade area\u201d.<\/p><\/div>
\u00a0III Plenary Conference, Madrid<\/h2>
The III Plenary Conference of the Mercosur\/European Union Business Forum (MEBF) was held on May 15-16 in Madrid, at the central offices of the Spanish Federation of Business Associations (CEOE).\u00a0More than 200 high-ranking representatives of companies and business federations<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>attended this meeting, chaired by Alfonso Cortina, President and CEO of Repsol YPF (Spain) and Carlos Bulgheroni, President of Bridas Corporation (Argentina).<\/p>
The Conference was also attended by a high level representation of the European Council, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the governments of the Mercosur countries, among others:\u00a0Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Aznar,<\/strong>\u00a0President of the Government of Spain (EU Presidency);\u00a0<\/strong>Rolf Linkohr,<\/strong>\u00a0President of the Delegation of the European Parliament for the Latin American Countries and the Mercosur; the Vice President of the European Commission,\u00a0<\/strong>Loyola de Palacio;<\/strong>\u00a0the European Commissioners Pascal Lamy (Trade),\u00a0Erkki Liikanen<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>(Enterprise),\u00a0Chris Patten<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>(External Relations) and\u00a0Pedro Solbes<\/strong>\u00a0(Economy);\u00a0<\/strong>Didier Opertti,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Minister of External Relations, Uruguay;\u00a0<\/strong>Mart\u00edn Redrado,<\/strong>\u00a0Ambassador, General Secretary of Trade, International Economy Relations and Consular Affairs, Argentina;\u00a0<\/strong>Jorge Hugo Herrera Vegas<\/strong>, Ambassador, Undersecretary of American Economic Integration and Mercosur, Argentina;\u00a0Clodoaldo Hugueney,<\/strong>\u00a0Ambassador, Undersecretary General, Integration, Economy and External Trade Affairs, Brazil;\u00a0<\/strong>Oscar Cabello Sarubbi<\/strong>, Director General, Multilateral Policy, Paraguay, and the President of the CEOE,\u00a0Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Cuevas.<\/strong><\/p>
The result of the MEBF III Plenary Conference is the document entitled Madrid Declaration, approved by the Mercosur and EU businesspersons attending the meeting, that includes\u00a071 specific recommendations to the authorities and negotiators<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>to enhance the trade and investment relations between the two blocks. In the Declaration, the Forum has underlined its support to the creation of a free trade area between the EU and the Mercosur without the exclusion of any sector, but it regrets that progress achieved until the moment is not fully satisfactory. The MEBF encourages the authorities of both blocks to accelerate their talks.<\/p>
In the Conference, the discussion focused on three concrete areas:\u00a0<\/strong>Market Access; Investment, Privatisation and Financial Services; and Services and Business Development.<\/strong><\/p>
In the area of Market Access, the MEBF has formulated 34 recommendations<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>aimed to facilitate two-way access to all products in the frame of the multilateral WTO negotiations. Particularly, the Forum appreciates the efforts of both parties to present concrete tariff offers, and states a set of proposals regarding the tariff structure of the two blocks.<\/p>
It also recommends the simplification and liberalisation of customs procedures for import and export operations, and asks for the simplification and reduction of the non-tariff trade taxes and the harmonisation of the customs valuation norms.<\/p>
The Forum stresses the importance of the implementation of the WTO agreement on tariff barriers, as well as the harmonisation of the sanitary and phytosanitary norms.<\/p>
Finally, it asks negotiators to pay special attention to the rules of origin and requests that the business facilitation measures recommended in the MEBF Buenos Aires Conference (December 2001) be implemented.<\/p>
Regarding Investments, Privatisation and Financial Services,<\/strong>\u00a0the MEBF points out the importance of the European investments in the Mercosur and estimates that there are still many opportunities, particularly for SMEs. The Forum considers that democracy, social cohesion, tax stability and sustained economical development are necessary conditions for the development of investments and bilateral trade. Therefore,\u00a0the MEBF presents 19 recommendations<\/strong>\u00a0to foster a friendly atmosphere to investments and liberalisation in both regions.<\/p>
Among others, mention should be made of the inclusion of a chapter about investments in the Interregional Association Agreement; the promotion of the negotiation of an Investment Multilateral Agreement in the frame of the Doha Round; the simplification of taxes and the development of bilateral agreements on double taxation; the need to complete the processes of liberalisation and privatisation, as well as the simplification of the investment regulations and the elimination of the restrictions affecting certain sectors; the impulse of private investment in infrastructure projects in Mercosur; the removal of obstacles for the concession of residence and working permits to foreign corporate managers; the promotion of co-operation among both SME blocks and the launching of technical assistance programs for the development and strengthening of the Mercosur SMEs; and the facilitation of the access to government procurement for companies of the two areas.<\/p>
Finally,\u00a0<\/strong>in the area of Services and Business Development,<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>the MEBF has identified the main problems limiting the bilateral relations, and has suggested\u00a018 recommendations aimed to eliminate said restrictions<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>and to foster the bilateral corporate relations.<\/p>
Other points to be pointed out are the request for inclusion of a chapter on Services in the Interregional Association Agreement, without the exclusion of any sector; the development of transparent, non discriminatory, and harmonised regulatory frames; the adoption of a higher degree of commitment with the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) in the frame of the WTO; the implementation of international rules to protect copyrights; and the promotion of technology transfer.<\/p>
The MEBF believes that the recommendations included in its Madrid Declaration may serve as an orientation of the interests and priorities of the private sector for the negotiators of both blocks, and at the same time, they will stimulate the Mercosur and EU companies to intensify their trade and investment links.<\/p>
At the end of the Conference, an announcement was made of the succession of the MEBF co-chairmen by Guy Doll\u00e9, CEO of Arcelor (Luxembourg) and Luiz Fernando Furlan, President of Sadia Group (Brazil).<\/p><\/div>
\u00a0IV Confer\u00eancia Plen\u00e1ria<\/h2>O F\u00f3rum Empresarial Mercosul e Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia (MEBF) \u00e9 uma iniciativa das comunidades de neg\u00f3cios que tem o objetivo de incrementar as rela\u00e7\u00f5es comerciais entre os dois blocos. Por meio de confer\u00eancias plen\u00e1rias, o setor privado contribui com a busca de solu\u00e7\u00f5es para eliminar ou reduzir entraves nesse processo.<\/p>
Neste ano, a IV Confer\u00eancia Plen\u00e1ria aconteceu em Bras\u00edlia (Brasil). Nos dias 28, 29 e 30 de outubro, o f\u00f3rum abordou temas como realiza\u00e7\u00f5es e perspectivas para negocia\u00e7\u00f5es entre a Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia e o Mercosul, acesso aos mercados e facilitadores de neg\u00f3cios, investimentos, servi\u00e7os e coopera\u00e7\u00e3o nos projetos especiais, entre outros. Esta data foi particularmente importante pelo est\u00e1gio em que se encontram as negocia\u00e7\u00f5es e pela influ\u00eancia da rodada de Canc\u00fan que afetou fortemente o processo.<\/p>
Neste momento, as negocia\u00e7\u00f5es do Mercosul e Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia, em Bruxelas, d\u00e3o novas perspectivas \u00e0s recomenda\u00e7\u00f5es feitas na Declara\u00e7\u00e3o de Bras\u00edlia, assinada pelo Conselho do MEBF e apoiada pelos empres\u00e1rios e entidades presentes ao evento, cerca de 350.<\/p>

Por que a Confer\u00eancia Plen\u00e1ria de Bras\u00edlia foi importante?<\/strong><\/p>
As Confer\u00eancias Plen\u00e1rias do F\u00f3rum Empresarial Mercosul e Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia (MEBF) visam assegurar a participa\u00e7\u00e3o do setor privado no processo negociador das rela\u00e7\u00f5es comerciais entre Mercosul e Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia, de maneira que os empres\u00e1rios estejam envolvidos nas decis\u00f5es tomadas.<\/p>
Para as empresas que possuem ou pretendem estabelecer neg\u00f3cios que envolvam Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia e Mercosul, os impactos dessa integra\u00e7\u00e3o se refletem em suas estrat\u00e9gias e seus resultados, tais como a redu\u00e7\u00e3o de tarifas, acesso a mercados, normas e legisla\u00e7\u00e3o espec\u00edfica, entre outros.<\/p>
Por isso, as recomenda\u00e7\u00f5es da Declara\u00e7\u00e3o de Bras\u00edlia s\u00e3o fundamentais para o desenvolvimento de acordos birregionais adequados ao mercado das duas regi\u00f5es.<\/p>

Quem participou?<\/strong><\/p>
Nos grupos de trabalho de acesso a mercados e facilita\u00e7\u00e3o de neg\u00f3cios, investimentos e servi\u00e7os e coopera\u00e7\u00e3o em projetos especiais, participaram empres\u00e1rios dos dois blocos com interesse estrat\u00e9gico nos itens propostos nos acordos bilaterais entre Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia e Mercosul.<\/p>
As palestras realizadas a partir das 10h00, do dia 29 de outubro, foram abertas a empres\u00e1rios, \u00f3rg\u00e3os governamentais e ONG\u2019s resultando em mais de 350 pessoas inscritas.<\/p>
Por possuir forte influ\u00eancia nas diretrizes inclu\u00eddas nos acordos birregionais oficiais, a IV Plen\u00e1ria contou com a participa\u00e7\u00e3o de Lu\u00eds In\u00e1cio Lula da Silva, Presidente do Brasil e Jos\u00e9 Mar\u00eda Aznar, Primeiro-Ministro da Espanha, que refor\u00e7aram a import\u00e2ncia do relacionamento Mercosul \u2013 Uni\u00e3o Europ\u00e9ia.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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