Ecuador is looking to become a full member of Mercosur according to Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who announced the country’s intention in her speech yesterday.
President Fernández briefly stated that the country planned to push forward in its goal of becoming an official member of Mercosur.
Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and PerĂş, are currently only associate members of the economical and political agreement, which promotes free trade and the movements of goods and currency.
Mercosur’s full members include Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Venezuela. However, Paraguay is currently suspended, while its newest member’s acceptance, Venezuela, is the topic of hot debate.
At a Mercosur summit in December of 2011 in Montevideo, Ecuador President Rafael Correa said, “we’re hoping to become a full member,” although no substantial efforts have been made thus far to try to gain acceptance into the agreement.
Venezuela waited roughly six years before finally being accepted as the fifth country. In order to enter the new bloc, the potential new member must be approved by the Congress of each of the existing member-states, and the Paraguayan senate had kept Venezuela’s application blocked.
Correa remarked that his country’s good relationships with all of the other member countries should help speed the process.
Bolivia is also looking to become a member according to Brazilian news sources.
“The idea is to have a more open discussion so that Ecuadorians and Bolivians can become a part of Mercosur,” says the Brazilian State News Agency.
The President of Brazilian’s Special Advisor for International Affairs, Marco Aurelio GarcĂa, plans on visiting Bolivia to discuss the country’s current position.
“We will be looking at how to create more opportunities for countries that are not formally included in Mercosur,” says GarcĂa.
With Venezuela’s recent acceptance both Ecuador and Bolivia are renewing their intention to become full members.
