EU seals Mercosur deal despite opposition from France
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced in the capital of Uruguay that the EU's negotiations with Mercosur countries regarding free trade have concluded. Poland and France oppose this move, citing the interests of their farmers, including those in the poultry and beef sectors.
EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Friday, December 6th, in Montevideo that negotiations for a free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, have concluded.
The agreement, negotiated for 25 years, aims to open South American markets to European technologies and to source raw materials for the production of clean technologies.
The issue raises controversy in Europe. The agreement is criticized by European farmers who are concerned about the potential influx of cheap agricultural products from countries such as Brazil and Argentina.
For the agreement to come into force, it must be ratified by the European Union. The EC will decide whether ratification will be required by all national parliaments or if approval from the European Parliament and the EU Council will be sufficient.
The resistance bloc in the EU against the agreement with Mercosur countries
France, Poland, and Italy have expressed opposition to the agreement, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has shown support for the deal. Regardless of the chosen ratification path, the future of the agreement remains uncertain.
Diplomatic efforts are underway to build a minority that will block this type of resolution. Such a minority is feasible, said Polish Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (PSL) at the end of November.
"Agreements signed by the EU must be safe for consumers and farmers. The Mercosur agreement does not meet this criterion," argued the Minister of National Defense and chairman of the Polish People's Party.
Kosiniak-Kamysz pointed out that Polish farmers, to sell their food, "must meet very demanding standards and face significant restrictions, which are the result of many years of European Union activities." He added that in South American countries, this certainly does not happen "to the same standards as in the EU."
