Commission of Permanent Representatives of MERCOSUR
Establishment
The Commission of Permanent Representatives of MERCOSUR (CRPM) was established on October 6, 2003 through Decision CMC N° 11/03, as part of a process to strengthen the institutional structure of the bloc.
Its establishment reflects the interest in having a permanent body based in Montevideo, which provides assistance to the Council of the Common Market (CMC) and the Pro Tempore Presidency of the bloc. Since 2007 (Decision CMC N° 54/07), the Permanent Representatives have also assisted the Common Market Group carrying out specific mandates entrusted to them by both of the bloc’s decision-making bodies.
Composition
The CRPM consists of the Permanent Representatives of the States Parties accredited to MERCOSUR.
The intergovernmental composition of the Commission has made it possible, on the one hand, to ensure that the interests of the States Parties are duly represented in all proposals, activities, and projects undertaken, and on the other, to establish a shared and ongoing perspective on the various issues assigned, in support of the integration process as a whole.
During its first six years of operation, the Presidency of the CRPM was held by prominent regional political figures appointed by the CMC, who contributed significantly to political dialogue and to the launch of the Commission’s first initiatives and activities.
Since 2010, the Commission’s activities have been chaired on a six-month rotational basis by the Permanent Representative holding the bloc’s Pro Tempore Presidency (CMC Decision N° 33/09).
Operation and Structure
The CRPM is the first political body of intergovernmental composition within MERCOSUR to have its own headquarters and permanent operations in Montevideo. This distinctive feature enables the development of work requiring permanent follow-up, fosters a close bond of trust and cooperation among delegations, and facilitates the coordination of work with other bodies headquartered in Montevideo, such as the Secretariat of MERCOSUR.
The Commission holds regular sessions in the MERCOSUR Building and, like all bodies of the bloc, operates under the principle of consensus.
In addition to the Permanent Representatives, the CRPM relies on the valuable work of the diplomatic teams of the Permanent Representations to MERCOSUR in Montevideo to carry out its activities. This staff of highly qualified diplomats with experience in regional issues is responsible for advancing the activities of the various Working Groups that operate within the Commission.
- FOCEM Working Group
- MERCOSUR Communications Policy Working Group
- Productivity Monitoring of Forums and their Programs Working Group
- Citizenship Working Group
- Conventions in the field of Res. GMC No. 15/20 (WG Conventions) Working Group
- MERCOSUR Training Platform Working Group
- FOCEM Budget Ad Hoc Working Group
- FOCEM Regulatory and Procedural Aspects Ad Hoc Working Group
The CRPM has a support office staffed by two officials from the Secretariat of MERCOSUR (CMC Decision 25/10).
Powers and Functions
The main duties of the CRPM are to assist the Council of the Common Market and the Pro Tempore Presidency of MERCOSUR in all the activities required and to present initiatives in matters related to the integration process (CMC Dec. N° 11/03, art. 4), and to assist the Common Market Group in various activities (CMC Dec. N° 54/07, art. 2). The Commission is also responsible for managing and supervising the operation of the Fund for the Structural Convergence of MERCOSUR – FOCEM (Dec. CMC N° 01/10, art. 19).
Documents
- Magazine CRPM 20th Anniversary (Spanish – Portuguese)
- Last semi-annual reports
- All CRPM meetings minutes and annexes
