British News Agency

Brazilian President Lula da Silva, in his statement regarding the agreement to be signed between MERCOSUR and the European Union, said: “In 2023, I restarted the policy of increasing the value of the minimum wage, because it is the working people who produce this country’s wealth.” He emphasized that it is fair for the country’s growth to be shared with workers.

Lula da Silva noted that during his third term, MERCOSUR finalized three major trade agreements with the European Union, EFTA and Singapore, and that they will continue working to establish new partnerships with Canada, Mexico, Vietnam, Japan and China. He also announced that he will attend the Latin America and Caribbean International Economic Forum to be held in Panama later this month.

Lula da Silva said: “The agreement to be signed tomorrow in Asunción, Paraguay, is good for Brazil, for MERCOSUR and for Europe. Above all, it is good for the world and for multilateralism.” He added that the agreement was prepared on the basis of respect for international obligations undertaken within the framework of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

The statement emphasized that the agreement includes commitments on the environment, the fight against climate change, the rights of indigenous peoples, labor rights and gender equality. Lula da Silva said that trade and market opening are meaningful only if they promote sustainable development and reduce inequalities.

Stating that Brazil is an important supplier of agricultural products to the European Union, Lula da Silva said they do not aim to be only a commodity exporter, but want to produce and sell higher value-added industrial products. He noted that the agreement will encourage increased investment by European companies and cover strategic value chains for the energy and digital transition.

President Lula da Silva said he received European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and emphasized that rebuilding the partnership with the European Union on a new footing has been a priority since the beginning of his third term. He stated that after more than twenty-five years of negotiations, the European Union and MERCOSUR will create a free trade area covering around 720 million people with an economic size exceeding 22 trillion dollars.