On Monday (15), the deputy Dr. Rosinha (PT-PR) said that, under Brazilian management, Mercosul Parliament gained more visibility, developed politically and got to directly influence the decisions of Heads of States.

The current president of the Parliament mentioned for instance the Parliament’s actuation in diplomatic problems recently faced in Bolivia and Paraguay, and the polemic “return directive”, approved by the European Parliament to harden rules against illegal immigrants. “We rejected that directive and influenced the decision of the presidents of Mercosul member countries to also reject that document”, he said.

“I was one of the coordinators of the observers group for the referendum that confirmed the mandates of Evo Morales and of several governors of Bolivia; and, in the case of Paraguay, a group of the Parliament will work until the end of April in the issue of Brazilian relations with that country”, informed Dr. Rosinha.

Crises inside the bloc
The Bolivian crisis started to worsen in September, when protesters of the opposition exploded a gas duct of Petrobras.

There were also problems regarding the relations between Paraguay and Brazil, about the so called “Brasiguaios”, and conflicts about the contract on the administration of the bi-national power plant of Itaipu. According to the new president of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, the contract is unfair to his country, which currently cedes to Brazil the surplus of half of the energy that belongs to Paraguay, at a price which is supposedly lower than the market price.

The “Brasiguaios” are the owners of lands at the border of Brazil and Paraguay, and are being threatened to suffer invasions and expropriations.

Balance
Dr. Rosinha presented, in Bahia, a balance of the Brazilian management at the leadership of the Mercosul Parliament.

On Monday (15), measures for the social promotion and protection related to the global financial crisis were debated during the extended meeting of the Common Market Council – composed by the ministers of Foreign Relations, Economy and Social Development of the member and associated countries of the bloc.

According to Dr. Rosinha, the meeting of ministers, which precedes the meeting of presidents, is very important, because all agreements to be signed are defined in it. “I took part by making a brief report on what we have already debated at the Mercosul Parliament, and a small analysis of the current political moment”, he informed.

At the end of the meetings in Bahia, Brazil will transfer the temporary presidency of Mercosul to Paraguay.

Report - José Carlos Oliveira
Editing - Maria Clarice Dias

Translation - Positive Idiomas Ltda