The period stipulated by the Lula government 3 to implement the agreement between Mercosur and the European Union (EU) —up to the middle of the year— may seem ambitious considering that it is a negotiation that has lasted more than 20 years.
The bloc’s ambassador in Brazil affirms, however, that the EU itself sees a conclusion as urgent. One of the reasons, indicates Ignacio Ybáñez in an interview with Sheetis the scenario created by the Ukrainian War, which catalyzed the European need to seek new trustworthy partners —in short, to flee from dependence on countries like Russia.
The Spaniard assures that the area of energy, in particular green hydrogen, is one of the biggest interests of the bloc in Brazil, and says that he believes that the country and its products are ready to meet European demands for sustainable supply chains.
And regarding the conflict in Eastern Europe, he does not agree that the countries of the Global South tend towards neutrality. But it recognizes the demands of the countries of the region. “The intention to be coherent at the international level is always valid. Which can never be used as an excuse.”
Translated by AZAHARA MARTIN ORTEGA
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