Name: EU member states back Mercosur deal, French MEPs vow fight
Uploaded: 2026-01-09T16:02:19.410Z
Duration: 1 min 7 s
Description: EU member states gave the green light to the signing of the Mercosur agreement, paving the way for a vast trade bloc taking in more than 700 million people across Europe and Latin America. France, however, plans to continue its fight against the deal in the European Parliament.

EU member states gave the green light to the signing of the Mercosur agreement, paving the way for a vast trade bloc taking in more than 700 million people across Europe and Latin America. France, however, plans to continue its fight against the deal in the European Parliament.

Paris

A qualified majority of European Union member states has approved the trade agreement with Mercosur, ending over twenty years of negotiations between the EU and the South American bloc comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Despite this approval, France, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and Ireland voted against the deal, while Belgium abstained, citing concerns about competition for EU farmers from Latin American imports.

To address these concerns, the European Commission introduced concessions, such as early access to €45 billion in agricultural policy funds and a freeze on the EU's carbon border tax for fertilizers. The agreement can now be signed by the EU, but it still requires the consent of the European Parliament before it can be fully implemented.

EU member states back Mercosur deal, French MEPs vow fight

A qualified majority of member states gave the green light on Friday to the trade deal with Mercosur. The vote ends more than two decades of difficult negotiations between the EU and a group of Latin American countries, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, as well as years of internal EU division. France, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Ireland voted against, while Belgium abstained. The deal's opponents warned this agreement would expose EU farmers to unfair competition from Latin American agricultural imports. In recent months, the Commission has added concessions aimed at appeasing farmers and securing the crucial support of Italy, including early access to 45 billion euros in common agricultural policy funds from 2028 and a freeze of the EU's carbon border tax on fertilisers. Today's vote opens the way for the EU to sign the agreement, with Commission President expected to travel to Latin America soon. The EU conclusion procedure, however, also requires the consent of the European Parliament.

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