Acordo de associação inter-regional Mercosul - União Europeia: análise do processo de negociação com foco em sua retomada

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the negotiations between MERCOSUR and the European Union on establishing an Interregional Association Agreement, which aims at creating a bi-regional free trade area. The research has emphasis on the period after the resumption of the talks, in 2010, in order to determine variations in the conditions of the negotiations. Primarily, the analysis comprises the construction of political and economic relations between the blocs in order to support the exploitation of the developments in the negotiations. Therefore, the historical examination includes the background to the formal start of the negotiation process and ends in 2014. Regarding the variations in the factors that influence the negotiations, the study provided analysis of the trade and investment flows between MERCOSUR and the European Union, given that the development of commerce and Foreign Direct Investment flows are identified as a major approach vector among them. As for the conditions to the negotiation process, stimuli and structural and cyclical factors that limit or disrupt the establishment of an Association Agreement have been analyzed, as well as some alternatives presented to the parties, which can positively or negatively influence the outcome of negotiations. Thus, it is argued that, given the profusion of identified obstacles, incentives to Trade Agreement will not be able to promote a positive conclusion to the negotiations. Keywords: