Certain European Union members do not want to adopt a trade deal with the South American Mercosur bloc, but Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez says his country is attempting to persuade them to do so.

At a joint press conference with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Madrid, Sanchez said, « There are indeed countries in the EU that have doubts about concluding this important agreement, but I think those doubts should be dispelled if we think about the full potential of an agreement of this magnitude. »

Both presidents see the second half of this year, when Spain holds the EU Council presidency and Brazil holds the Mercosur presidency, as a unique opportunity to finalize the agreement.

« Brazil and Spain concur that this agreement is the foundation for closer ties between the European Union and the Mercosur nations. Latin America and the Caribbean should be one of the regions we are now considering as our future allies », Sanchez added.

source: reuters.com