Directorate of the Secretariat of MERCOSUR
Director
The Council of the Common Market, through Decision CMC N° 17/24, appointed Dr. Jimmy Voss Donamarí of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay as Director of the Secretariat of MERCOSUR with a term from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026.
Voss Donamarí holds a PhD in Law, with a Master’s Degree in Integration and International Trade from the University of Montevideo. He has completed several International Trade courses at the Catholic University of Uruguay.
He joined the Secretariat of the Common Market Group (GMC) in September 1992 as a support officer for meetings of the bloc’s bodies. In 1997, he became a member of the regulatory sector of the Secretariat of MERCOSUR (SM). He was Coordinator of the SM from 2006 to 2008 and, in 2023, was appointed its Coordinator again through December 31, 2024.
Responsibilities
The Director is responsible for the proper performance of all tasks assigned to the SM and for its technical, administrative, financial, and asset management.
Competencies
In this context, the Director of the Secretariat shall:
- Direct and supervise the work of the Sectors that make up the Secretariat.
- Coordinate the Secretariat’s relations with the other bodies in MERCOSUR’s structure, through the Pro Tempore Presidency (PPT), and be responsible for submitting reports and information to those bodies.
- Oversee the preparation of the Secretariat’s annual budget proposal and the statement of accounts, and submit both to the GMC for consideration.
- In consultation with the Coordinators of the Common Market Group, set priorities and deadlines for the Secretariat’s work, based on the availability of human and material resources.
- Allocate staff among the various sectors defined in the Secretariat’s organizational chart, taking into account staffing limitations and the qualifications required for the different positions.
- Organize training for the Secretariat’s staff, subject to budgetary constraints, and authorize their participation in courses, seminars, and other events relevant to their duties. Officials participating in these events may not give opinions on behalf of MERCOSUR.
- Organize logistical support for MERCOSUR meetings. The number and profile of the staff members who make up the Secretariat’s support teams for each meeting shall be defined by the Pro Tempore Presidency; based on those parameters, and subject to budgetary constraints, it falls to the Director to form the support team. To ensure proper execution of this task, staff will receive specific training to meet the day-to-day needs of negotiation meetings, particularly secretariat services, document reproduction, and preparation of the Minutes and other meeting documentation. The team providing logistical support will be under the responsibility of a Team Leader appointed by the Director to facilitate coordination with the Pro Tempore Presidency.
- Prepare the SM Annual Report of Activities, as provided in paragraph VIII of Article 32 of the Protocol of Ouro Preto (POP).
The Coordinator shall act under the supervision of the Director, performing the tasks assigned by the Director to facilitate the day-to-day management of the Secretariat. Without prejudice to other tasks entrusted by the Director, the Coordinator shall:
- Assist the Director in the fulfillment of all his duties and functions.
- Replace the Director in his/her functions in the event of his/her absence.
- Supervise Secretariat staff in complying ith existing General Rules for Secretariat staff.
- Oversee implementation of work in all sectors of the Secretariat.
- Assist the Director in the functions related to the implementation of technical cooperation projects and agreements.
