BRUSSELS: The EU and South America’s Mercosur bloc agreed on Friday to make another effort to get talks on a long-stalled free trade accord back on track with fresh offers to be made next month. Negotiations have dragged on since 1999, coming to a complete halt in 2004 before resuming again in 2010. However, hard times for EU farmers who want special protection for meat, dairy and other produce mean progress could be difficult. EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem and Uruguay Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa, who holds the current Mercosur rotating presidency, said after a meeting on Friday they would exchange market access offers in the second week of May.