'The best is yet to come' - von der Leyen in Brazil ahead of signing Mercosur deal
The signing ceremony of the EU-Mercosur agreement will "be only a first step," the President of the European Commission said in Brazil today (Friday, January 16).
President Ursula von der Leyen was in Rio de Janeiro today to meet with the President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of the official ceremony tomorrow.
At a joint press conference today in Rio de Janeiro with the president of Brazil, President von der Leyen, said that for both regions and their people "the best is yet to come".
She also described the Mercosur trade agreement as "the achievement of a generation".
"The EU-Mercosur agreement sends a powerful message.
"It says welcome to the world's biggest market and largest free trade zone on the planet.
"This is the power of partnership and openness. This is the power of friendship and understanding between peoples and regions across oceans," President von der Leyen added.
Mercosur
The president of the European Commission said that both her and President da Silva agree that "international trade is not a zero-sum game".
"We are convinced, everyone can and must benefit – in terms of new jobs on both sides, better opportunities for our people and the business sector, and thus higher income.
"We want a world that is running on trust and teamwork," she added.
Tomorrow, President von der Leyen will travel to Asuncion and together with Antonio Costa, president of the European Council, will meet with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Pena.
Presidents von der Leyen and Costa will then participate in the signing ceremony of the EU-Mercosur agreement.
European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic, will sign the agreement of behalf of the EU.
