US EditionEU-Mercosur Trade Deal Signing Postponed as France and Italy Seek More Safeguards
France and Italy seek more protections for farmers and budget concessions, delaying the EU-Mercosur trade deal vote to January, European Commission confirmed.
- On Thursday, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen told EU leaders at a Brussels summit the vote on the Mercosur deal would be delayed, postponing a signing trip to Brazil set for Saturday.
- Italy asked for more time to address farmer concerns, with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni signaling support after final assurances and several member states including France and Poland voicing fears about EU farming sectors.
- Ireland stressed recent agricultural concessions including the EU nitrates derogation and the Irish government sought assurances on South American food safety and a larger Common Agricultural Policy budget, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Friday.
- The postponement buys negotiators time to secure Rome's backing, as frantic EU-level negotiations continue to gather the weighted majority of the 27 EU member states required for approval.
- Beyond farming concerns, the deal promises export gains by lowering barriers with Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, benefiting Irish dairy, whiskey and pharmaceuticals but risking Ireland's standing within the EU.
112 Articles
112 Articles
In the absence of a majority of Member States, the President of the European Commission has had to announce the postponement of the signing of the Free Trade Treaty with Mercosur until January. Several EU countries...
The South American governments expressed their disquiet at the lack of internal consensus in Brussels, which postponed the signing of the treaty to January.
Under pressure in France, the head of state won on Thursday in Brussels a battle with the postponement of a vote on the trade agreement with Mercosur, thanks to the key support of Italy. A fragile respite which exposes him in a month to a new outbreak of agricultural anger.
Following the announcement of the postponement to January of the EU-Mercosur agreement, Sébastien Lecornu receives this Friday the four main agricultural unions in Matignon. Emmanuel Macron considered it "too early" to say whether France will be able to accept the agreement next month but he does not completely exclude a signature. Follow our direct.
This additional delay is a setback for the European Commission, Germany and Spain, which were pushing for a signature in the coming days.
The French President believes that it is "too early" to say whether Paris will be able to accept the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur next month, despite the strong opposition of French farmers and political parties.
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