EU- MERCOSUR ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT: A two-decade negotiation process
Author
Ion, Marina-Alexandra
Term
4. term
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-10-15
Abstract
This thesis examines the two-decade negotiation process of the EU–Mercosur Association Agreement. It asks what explains the duration and dynamics of the talks and how domestic, intergovernmental, and sectoral factors shaped outcomes. The study combines an empirical timeline of relations and negotiations (1986–2020) with a Liberal Intergovernmentalist framework that analyzes domestic preference formation, interstate bargaining, and the role of non-state actors, notably interest groups. It accounts for institutional asymmetries between the blocs and external shocks such as the financial crisis and COVID-19. The analysis tests a hypothesis on conflicting economic interests and highlights the centrality of the agricultural sector, including food-safety standards and beef and poultry trade, in driving contention. The thesis documents the 2019–2020 breakthrough—an agreement in principle with the trade pillar negotiated and the political dialogue and cooperation pillar concluded—but notes that the AA remains under legal scrubbing and pending ratification. Overall, the findings indicate that competing interests and regulatory constraints prolonged the process and conditioned the scope of the agreement.
Denne afhandling undersøger den to årtier lange forhandlingsproces om associeringsaftalen mellem EU og Mercosur. Den spørger, hvad der forklarer forhandlingernes varighed og dynamik, og hvordan nationale, mellemstatslige og sektorielle faktorer har formet udfaldene. Studiet kombinerer en empirisk tidslinje over relationer og forhandlinger (1986–2020) med en liberal intergovernmentalistisk ramme, der analyserer national præferencedannelse, mellemstatslig forhandling og ikke-statslige aktørers rolle, særligt interessegrupper. Det tager højde for institutionelle asymmetrier mellem blokkene og eksterne chok som finanskrisen og COVID-19. Analysen tester en hypotese om modstridende økonomiske interesser og fremhæver landbrugssektorens centrale betydning, herunder fødevaresikkerhedsstandarder samt handel med okse- og fjerkrækød, for de mest stridbare spørgsmål. Afhandlingen dokumenterer gennembruddet i 2019–2020—en principaftale med handelspillen forhandlet og den politiske dialog- og samarbejdspille afsluttet—men konstaterer, at aftalen stadig gennemgår juridisk kvalitetssikring og afventer ratifikation. Samlet peger resultaterne på, at konkurrerende interesser og reguleringsmæssige begrænsninger har forlænget processen og præget aftalens omfang.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
Keywords