The 41st MERCOSUR Consultative Economic and Social Forum meeting, organized civil society representing body in Mercosur, took place at UOCRA venue on April 10th and 11th
On the opening day, Gerardo Martinez UOCRA General Secretary and CGT Foreign Affairs Secretary received the participants on behalf of the Argentina pro tempore Presidency of the Regional Forum.
Ambassador Dr Oscar Laborde, representing our Chancellery, was part of the opening ceremony, who reported on the new Social Summit which will take place next June and the Forum participation in this activity. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay asked for tangible advance in the agreement with the European Union, considering social dimension, particularly concerning the impact on the release of goods and services market and the respect for ILO fundamental principles and rights. On this matter, Jorge Zorreguieta, as representative of the Argentine Industrial Union [UIA], who together with the Argentine General Confederation of Labor [CGT], Argentine Workers Central [CTA] and the Argentine Consumer Association [ADELCO] completed the list of the Argentine executive officers, unionists and the third sector’s, agreed with Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay counterparts in the need of strengthening MERCOSUR position in the negotiation with the European Union. During the conference, there were regional reports, it was discussed and approved the recommendation on the qualification approval of technical degrees in the Mercosur, in order to promote the design and implementation of a faster system to update equivalent tables and competence of high school and technical studies, so as to extend the accreditation of said degrees and certificates in all the Mercosur countries and associated states.
Another important subject was the approval of a document on climate change which was also submitted to the Common Market Group. This document affirms that: “The planet is in danger and there is urgent need for strategic alliance among the states and civil society organizations, in order to achieve sustainable development of the people in our region reducing poverty and inequity.”
It is also proposed an energetic integration that guarantees the respect towards the environment and society participation and solidarity in the use of natural resources, preferably focused on our people’s welfare, providing the role the State should assume in such concern.
On the Second day of work, the Counselor Sergio Laciuk, reported on the improvement in the group of institutional reform that is under Ambassador Grispun responsibility. The closing was in charge of Ministry Luis Pablo Niscóvolos, Director of Multilateral and Economic Negotiations, who lectured on the negotiations with the World Trade Organization and highlighted on Doha Round and NAMA 11.
Eventually, it is worthwhile highlighting how sessions were carried out.  The Dialogue was the most important character and conclusions as well as consensual agreement were reached after respectful and democratic debate.