The European Union and the Mercosur: A Case of Inter-Regionalism

In: Third world quarterly, Band 20, Heft 5, S. 927-941

Abstract

Reviews the relations between two regional integration arrangements, the European Union (EU) & Mercosur, under three aspects: trade & investment, international negotiations, & the institutional dimension. Tracing the agenda & issues dealt with between the two, leading to a project of a transatlantic free trade area, reveals that trade issues, one of two pillars of reference, are important. However, the most influential results have stemmed so far from the other pillar, the political one. These results may be seen in the EU's role as a "road map" for Mercosur's institutional trajectory, & as a signal for the private sector in furthering industrial networks in the ongoing world economic restructuring. The objective, thus, is to highlight how the relationship may interact with two encompassing processes: the shaping of regionalism/s, in particular the Mercosur case, & the so-called globalization process. Adapted from the source document.