Social dimension of MERCOSUR: focus on Paraguayan reality through the MERCOSUR Structural Convergence Fund

• Giseli Aparecida de Oliveira

  Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Brasil

Mercosur began in 1991 as a political strategy to increase trade among the countries of the region and gain space on the international scene. The regional integration process has progressed beyond economic aspects and has now included debate and deliberations in the social area. Starting in 2000, it was identified the establishment of a social agenda for MERCOSUR and the creation of institutional mechanisms aimed at its operationalization. The MERCOSUR Social Agenda can be understood as a set of actions, programs and institutions that are part of the regional integration with the objective of reducing asymmetries and social inequalities in the countries of the bloc. Among the measures adopted by the Common Market Council - CMC, we highlight the creation of the MERCOSUR Structural Convergence Fund - FOCEM. This research has as objective to verify how is the progress of FOCEM and highlight its actions in the Paraguay reality. As a general objective we seek to describe the institution of FOCEM and its process of operationalization. The study is descriptive and exploratory in nature, with the collection of data through bibliographical, documentary and semistructured interviews. The paper presents an analysis of the functioning of FOCEM in the context of regional integration, presenting the limits and possibilities of this institution. The study reveals FOCEM´s effort to create strategic actions to ensure social cohesion and reduce disparities between states, yet presents itself with reduced institutional and political support.

1. Giseli Aparecida de Oliveira, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Brasil

   Mestrado em Ciências Sociais Aplicadas; Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Assistente Social na Associação Beneficente Lua Nova, Brasil.

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