The European Union as a Model for the Development of Mercosur?

Civil Society Participation in Mercosur: Some Critical Points (S. 77-78)

Michelle Ratton Sanchez

Abstract

The Mercosur Council Working Program 2004-2006 (MERCOSUR/CMC/DEC no 26/03) employs the term "civil society" with the purpose of increasing its participation in the institutional structure of Mercosur. As such an expression has never been applied in any formal document of that regional integration process, in this article firstly I intend to investigate the concepts related to "civil society" in Mercosur, identifying the groups of actors that have participated during recent years. The analysis also comprehends an evaluation of the Mercosur institutional channels for "civil society" participation, which might be revised according to Ouro Preto 2nd Round Decisions.

1. Introduction

Due to the increasing complexity of economic relations in regional integration processes, with more interaction between the productive chains and a greater scope and technicality in the regulation of social and economic life, new forms of representation and participation are required on the different levels of political decision. Currently Mercosur is undergoing a process of questioning its economic and political viability. Among the factors that have been identified are its weak institutionalization and the poor social cohesion of the bloc.

In this article I intend to analyze the relation between these two factors. Decision No. 09/95 of the Common Market Council (CMC) – the Mercosur 1995-2000 Action Program –foresaw in paragraph 3.2 that: The strengthening of the integration process requires a more intensive participation on the part of society. To this end, the Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) and the Economic and Social Advisory Forum (ESAF) shall ensure the due participation of the sectors involved. After the Mercosur Relaunching Project in 2000 and its Institutional Strengthening Project in 2001, the 2004-2006 Mercosur Work Program was finally launched in 2003.1 This work program defines lines of action for affirming and expanding the integration project, articulating for the first time the idea of participation on the part of "civil society" (paragraph 2.1 of the 2004- 2006 Mercosur Work Program).

Two points are worth noting in the mentioned documents: one is the fact that in the 1995-2000 Action Program reference is made to mechanisms for both representation (JPC) and direct participation (ESAF), the other point is the employment, beginning with the 2004-2006 Mercosur Work Program, of the term "civil society." Attention is called to the use of the expression "civil society" in an official Mercosur document considering that a detailed search for its content:

(i) defines the group of interests involved (and represented), and (ii) establishes lines to identify its interlocutors. I understand that this exercise is essential when applying the concept of "civil society" in international or regional fora. In spite of there being a terminological coincidence with respect to the theory of the modern State, the political structure on which the new usage is based is distinct. Moreover, the term has been applied with specific content in each international forum. Considering the proposal for revising the institutional structure of Mercosur – known as "Ouro Preto II" and which defines the participation of "civil society" as one of its central elements –, it has yet to be confirmed if the institutional reform indeed favors the participation of "civil society."