ABSTRACT
Venezuela’s membership was temporarily suspended in December 2016, and indefinitely from August 2017, pending the restoration of democratic order. The Consultative Economic and Social Forum comprises representatives from the business community and trade unions in the member countries and has a consultative role in relation to MERCOSUR. A summit meeting scheduled for the end of July was cancelled, and Uruguay-holder of the preceding presidency-unilaterally devolved the role to Venezuela outside the framework of the Common Market Council, eschewing established formal procedure. MERCOSUR's Specialized Meeting on Family Farming provides a framework for co-operation between rural organizations and family farmers in the region. In July 2004 Mexico was invited to attend all meetings of the organization with a view to future accession to associate membership. In February 2010 ministers responsible for foreign affairs agreed to establish an Andean Community-MERCOSUR Mixed Commission to facilitate and strengthen co-operation between member countries of both organizations.
