The announcement that Uruguay ratified this week its accession to the South American Union of Nations Constitutive Treaty (UNASUR) can expedite the examination by the Board of the draft legislative decree (PDC) 1669/09, which submits the terms of the treaty for approval of the Brazilian legislature. After the accession of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, the ratification of Uruguay meets the minimum requirements of at least nine countries so that UNASUR can acquire a corporate status.

Thus, the treaty establishing UNASUR comes into effect March 11th of this year, 30 days after the ninth ratification, even without being approved by the Brazilian National Congress.

The UNASUR will be an area of continental integration, covering 12 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The treaty stipulates that the organization will aim to build a space for integration and unity in the cultural, social, economic and political relationship between their populations, prioritizing political dialogue, social policies, education, energy and environment, among others, aiming to eliminate socioeconomic inequality, achieving social inclusion and citizen participation, strengthen democracy, sovereignty and independence of the states.

Proceeding
Adherence of Brazil to UNASUR was discussed and approved by the Committees on Foreign Relations and National Defense, and Constitution and Justice and Citizenship (CCJ) of the Chamber, but has been waiting for over a year to be analyzed by the Floor. Then the proposal must be approved by the Senate. In the opening speech of legislative works, the President of the Brazilian Republic, Dilma Rousseff, said that the ratification of the agreement is a government priority.
According to Representative Dr. Rosinha (PT-PR), who was the rapporteur of the project in the CCJ, the inclusion of matter in The Floor Daily Program must be negotiated so that the agenda is clear. “We are waiting for the right moment, which should occur after the determination of interim measures and important projects, such as minimum wage,” she said.

Lack of Agreement
Although the Foreign Ministry announced with satisfaction the ratification instrument sent by Uruguay, which effectively ensures the treaty comes into effect, Brazil's adherence to UNASUR still depends on a agreement with the opposition.
Former president of the Mercosur Parliament (Parlasur), Dr. Rosinha says that, for ideological reasons, opposition parties have hampered the project's approval. The deputy claimed that the impasse is not very well explained by the opposition parties, such as the PSDB, PPS and the DEM. “They do not explain, point by point, why they oppose. I think it's a concept more ideological than substantive. Ideologically, we know that they are opposed to South American integration. We know they have much more ideological affinity with North American politics than with the politics of South America.”

The Democratic leader, representative ACM Neto, defends a wider debate and changes in the proposal. "It is necessary to make an adjustment in the project and, after these adjustments, the discussion among the leaders, I think it can flow. In fact, Brazil had to meet a number of things that did not comply by the end of 2010. Now, imagery must me made; it is expected that the amendment does come out worse than the ailment.” 

The lack of agreement between government and opposition on the issue could be observed during the last session of last year's Parlasur, held in December in Montevideo.