Spain and Paraguay call for swift ratification of the EU-Mercosur Agreement

Asunción (Paraguay)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, receives military honors upon his arrival at the Palace of the Government, together with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña (Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa)

President Sánchez emphasised the close relationship between the two countries, with a Paraguayan community in Spain estimated at around 160,000 people, and expressed the interest of Spanish companies in continuing to consolidate economic ties with a country in which Spain's accumulated investment has reached €674 million. He also expressed the will to reaffirm the joint commitment to the Ibero-American space, in particular with the holding of the 30th Ibero-American Summit in Madrid in 2026, as an opportunity to make progress in regional consultation, consensus and dialogue.

During Sánchez's visit to Uruguay, two Memoranda of Understanding on cultural cooperation and circular migration were signed. The cultural cooperation programme aims to facilitate exchange and collaboration between institutions in Spain and Paraguay in the areas of visual and performing arts, film, literature, libraries, archives, museums, cultural heritage management, the promotion of cultural and creative industries, and challenges related to the development of artificial intelligence.

The circular migration agreement establishes a framework for cooperation to develop a programme for selecting Paraguayan workers in the country of origin, similar to the already existing programmes with countries like Ecuador, Honduras and Morocco, whereby those selected will be able to reside and work temporarily in Spain in activities where there is a need to fill jobs.

Business meeting

Both presidents took part in the closing ceremony of a business meeting in which Spanish and Paraguayan companies explored new opportunities for collaboration and business in areas such as public infrastructure, sustainable agriculture and renewable energies.

During his speech, Pedro Sánchez highlighted the "excellent economic and trade relations" that unite the two countries, and expressed the importance of continuing to make progress on three common objectives: promoting economic development, defending our companies and confronting the advance of protectionism.

Non official translation