MERCOSUR sign Bolivia accession protocol
President Dilma Rousseff greets the president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, during the 48th Summit of Heads of State of MERCOSUR and Associated States
MERCOSUR member countries – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela – signed a new protocol Friday (July 17) for Bolivia's accession to the bloc. A previous accession protocol had already been signed by Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Venezuela in 2012, when Paraguay was suspended from MERCOSUR because of a parliament coup against former president Fernando Lugo.
The parliaments of Argentina, Uruguay, and Venezuela have already approved Bolivia as a member country without further ratification. In Brazil and Paraguay, the decision is still pending Congress approval. Bolivia currently holds a status of associate country in the process of acceding to the bloc.
Translated by Mayra Borges
Fonte: MERCOSUR sign Bolivia accession protocol
