Concertation (1) or Negotiation: More than a Semantic Difference. Some Reflections about Lessons from the Cases of Mercosur and EU

The purpose of this essay is to present a comparative analysis on the birth and developments of the Mercosur and of the European Union, trying to identifiy the central key that may explain the different life and accomplishments of both regimes, beyond their formal similarities. In both cases founding nations were politically and strategically motivated, and established organized cooperation and integration, going further than free trade among them, on the basis of normative treaties. Negotiations were and are the operative idoneous way utilized by those regimes. Moreover, European nations have chosen from the very begining concertación "to overcome their antagonisms" and to develop "a relative efficient and dynamic pattern of working together" and this prevail in the activities of the European Union until now. This crucial approach has to be taken as the main reason for the persistence of the regime and its success. On the other side Mercosur parties from the birth of the regime based their expectations on negotiations alone. The basic concertación in the European Union and the lack of it in Mercosur make the difference in the life and attainement of their respective purpose and goals.