The 68th Mercosur Summit kicks off this Monday at the CONMEBOL Convention Center in Luque, with the confirmed attendance of seven heads of state and representatives from countries such as Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. The event marks the transition of the Pro Tempore Presidency from Paraguay to Uruguay after more than 360 meetings held during the Paraguayan administration.
Among the central items on the agenda are the trade agreement with the European Union, currently in provisional effect, and the announcement of the start of formal negotiations with Japan. Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez Lezcano stated that the EU-Mercosur agreement benefits 700 million people and is awaiting final approval from the European Parliament, which referred the treaty to the Court of Justice of the EU for a legal compatibility review.
President Santiago Peña confirmed that technical discussions on the revision of Itaipú's Annex C are progressing smoothly and will be addressed during the summit. The central point of negotiations between Paraguay and Brazil is the definition of the electricity tariff, with disagreements over amounts and timelines. Peña emphasized that the dam has an estimated useful life of 100 years and that the focus is on projecting the region's energy future.
In addition to Mercosur leaders (Paraguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay), the presidents of Bolivia, Chile, and Ecuador are also attending. Preliminary meetings include foreign ministers and economy ministers, with debates on trade facilitation, physical integration, and the reduction of border bureaucracy.