On Wednesday, January 15, Ambassador Karl-Otto König met with the elected president, Luis Lacalle Pou at his headquarters.

During the meeting, both exchanged views and ideas regarding political and economic issues of common interest to Uruguay and the European Union. Among other things, Ambassador König invited the future Uruguayan president to travel to Europe during this year.

Ambassador König also had the opportunity to greet Vice-President-elect Beatriz Argimon, with whom he will meet again in the coming months to discuss other issues of common interest, such as gender equality and human rights.

On his way out of the meeting, Ambassador König spoke to the Uruguayan media. He underlined the future President is welcome to travel to Europe, and that his visit to Brussels - headquarters of the EU institutions - would be planned in the coming months.

Regarding his personal relationship with Lacalle Pou, the Ambassador said that they have known each other for many years and have always had a good dialogue.

Regarding the EU-Mercosur association agreement, the Ambassador said that the ratification process will begin this year. He explained that the text of the agreement is still in the legal phase, given its length and complexity. Negotiations between the EU and Mercosur concluded successfully in June 2019, when the historic agreement was finally reached after 20 years of negotiations. The association agreement will open many doors to Uruguay's productive sectors, and will also serve to attract further European investment to the country.