JOINT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

Buenos Aires, October 26, 2005 at 16 hr.

MINUTES

The Joint Steering Committee met as planned, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Antonio Estrany y Gendre and Mr. Luis Mira Amaral at the site of  the “Argentine Council on Foreign Relations-CARI” to discuss the previously distributed Agenda.

List of participants attached.

1.      Introduction by Co-Chairmen: The meeting was declared opened with a short introduction by both Co-Chairmen. Mr. Mira Amaral asked whether the appointment of Mr. Pablo Benia, Head of Uruguay's Standards Organization, as Chairman of Mercosur's  Services and Investment WG should be understood as a signal of Mercosur´s willingness to include that subject in the Working Group. It was clarified both by Mr. Christian Bolz, Uruguay's representative at MEBF, and by J. Enrico that the appointment had no implication in terms of reassignment of specific issues to Working Groups. Mr. Benia was the person appointed by Uruguay's private sector to Chair the  Services and Investment WG for Mercosur.

2.      Working Groups: Each of the Working Groups made a presentation of their proposals and suggestions [1] on each side that were further discussed and clarified. An agreement on how to proceed was reached, as specified in 5. Actions

3.      Calendar for the rest of 2005 and up to the next Plenary: The floor was open to discuss different alternatives for a Calendar for the WG's leading to the Plenary Conference. Although the previous Joint Meeting of the Steering Committee in Brussels, set Feb 10^th as an initial date for the Plenary, full flexibility was introduced by the Chairmen, in order to accommodate with the next  Mercosur – EU Negotiators Meeting at Ministerial Level. It was stressed that MEBF's presence and visibility, as well as its interaction with the Official Negotiators, both at the Commission and the individual Governments, has to increase, and that MEBF should lead the process by continuing to be the voice of the private sector. Again, an agreement on how to proceed was reached, as specified in 5. Actions

4.      Next Plenary Session: A general and fruitful discussion ensued about possible content for the Plenary Conference planned for next March.

5.      Actions:

a.       For MEBF as a whole: Although main responsibility in this area falls into Fernando´s and Jorge's hands, all participants are encouraged to submit proposals:

                                                               i.      Help accelerate the Bi-Regional Agreement negotiation process, increasing —in as much as possible— the interaction with Governments and the Commission. (Continue to be the representative voice of the EU and Mercosur business community, as it has been since before the launch of the negotiations)

                                                            ii.      Increase MEBF's “visibility” in both regions (Try to get more companies aboard, update MEBF´s webpage, and similar actions)

                                                          iii.      Continue planning and prepare a Programme for next Plenary Session

                                                           iv.      Start preparing the “Buenos Aires Declaration” with a view on updating previous Declarations

b.      For individual Working Groups: It was generally recognized that there was a need to give the participants some time (about two weeks) to reflect on the issues discussed and allow for Mercosur-EU interaction at the horizontal level. It was then agreed that by November 10^th, each Working Group will provide the Mercosur and EU Co-Chairmen:

                                                              i.      A programme —acceptable both for MS and EU, that is “joint”— identifying specific actions to be taken in order to reach the Plenary with a Working Document. That should include, when applicable, the proposal for the creation of sub-groups

                                                            ii.      A detailed Calendar for those actions, so that a progress follow-up can be made

The Co-Chairmen wish to express their sincere gratitude to all participants and their companies for their commitment to MEBF and their contribution to the successful meeting of this Joint Steering Committee. They also express their appreciation to Portugal's Ambassador to Argentina, Amb. Antonio Carlos Carvalho de Almeida Ribeiro, for hosting a Buffet in honour of the Delegation.

Jorge Enrico

Coordinator, Mercosur

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

JOINT STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING

Buenos Aires, October 26, 2005 at 16 hr