The implementation of ‘Mercosur’s Seal’ that will allow free circulation of goods and services among member countries was the highlight of discussions.
Delegates of Paraguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Colombia met in Bogotá, for the 8th Intermediate Meeting of Mercosur Cultural’s Regional Committee. Its objective was to strengthen and promote cultural cooperation and exchange between these countries’ agencies.
According to the Culture Vice-minister Culture, María Claudia López, “Mercosur Cultural is one of the region’s most dynamic and with greater potential integration spaces. This is why Colombia’s Ministry of Culture has committed itself to create a mechanism for integration based on establishing a joint work agenda that will strengthen these countries’ creative industries”.
The Vice-minister also added: “it is of great importance other countries and multilateral organizations’ support to the cultural projects formulated by this Committee”.
Rocío Ortega, Paraguay’s delegate, chair of the Meeting, assured that “cultural content should be a priority for Latin American governments, at the same level of economic matters”.
One of the central matters discussed was the consolidation of mechanisms that will enable the implementation of ‘Mercosur’s Seal’. The Seal seeks to create the conditions for free circulation of cultural goods and services among member countries. “We want to avoid excessive customs procedures, without overlooking security measures that limit illicit traffic of artwork”, declared Ortega.
According to Luz Ámparo Medina, International Matters and Cooperation Coordinator of Colombia’s Ministry of Culture, “in spite of the fact that Colombia is an associate member of Mercosur Cultural, we know that the creation of ‘Mercosur’s Seal’ will be an effective incentive for our cultural industries to receive more benefits when circulating in South America”.
This Meeting had as objective to favour the enrichment and diffusion of cultural and artistic expressions and processes in South America.
On Mercosur Cultural
- It was born in 1996 as an initiative of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
- Colombia, Chile, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador are associate members.
- Mercosur Cultural influenced the creation of Paraguay and Bolivia’s Ministries of Culture and the creation of Uruguay’s National Film Institute.