Technical Advisory Sector

The Technical Advisory Sector (SAT) is responsible for providing advice and technical support to the other MERCOSUR bodies, with the aim of contributing to the creation of a common forum for reflection on the development and consolidation of the integration process, as detailed below:

Prepare, at the request of MERCOSUR decision-making bodies, technical papers both within MERCOSUR and in the context of MERCOSUR’s external relations.

In carrying out this activity, the Technical Advisory Division may, among other tasks:

• Prepare working documents
• Compile information and proposals
• Gather background information and/or historical records on the treatment of a topic within MERCOSUR and in other international forums.

Prepare periodic reports, on a semiannual basis, on the progress of the integration process, in order to analyze the relevant variables affecting the process and monitor the implementation of commitments undertaken within or by MERCOSUR.

The reports may also identify, from a shared perspective, possible shortcomings, regulatory gaps, and specific difficulties in the integration process, or issues of common interest, in order to propose, from a regional perspective, courses of action to MERCOSUR decision-making bodies.

The semiannual reports will be supervised by the Director of the Secretariat. The GMC will decide on the dissemination of said reports.

Conduct studies on topics of interest to MERCOSUR, including other integration processes, with the aim of contributing to the deepening of the integration process.

The study program, proposed by the Secretariat, will be approved annually by the GMC.

At any time, the GMC may, after consulting the Director of the Secretariat, propose the inclusion of new studies in the program, the implementation of which will be subject to the availability of human and material resources.

When carrying out these studies, the Technical Advisory Sector may, with the express authorization of the GMC, work jointly with other international organizations or academic institutions.

Prior to meetings of MERCOSUR decision-making bodies, analyze draft regulations prepared by the various MERCOSUR technical bodies, solely to verify their consistency with the MERCOSUR legal framework and identify any incompatibilities with existing regulations or possible implications for ongoing negotiations.

The control of legal consistency of acts and draft regulations issued by MERCOSUR bodies will be carried out in accordance with the rules in force on the matter.

The absence of prior analysis by the Technical Advisory Division will not prevent a given act or draft regulation from being considered by MERCOSUR decision-making bodies.