Name: European Commission turns up pressure on France over Mercosur deal
Uploaded: 2025-12-15T18:29:10.815Z
Duration: 1 min 15 s
Description: France wants to delay member states’ vote on the agreement amid mounting farmer anger. But the EU executive says a shifting global geoeconomic landscape makes the deal urgent.

France wants to delay member states’ vote on the agreement amid mounting farmer anger. But the EU executive says a shifting global geoeconomic landscape makes the deal urgent.

Paris

The European Commission has intensified efforts to secure the signing of the Mercosur Agreement, urging France to reconsider its opposition. The Commission views the deal as crucial for economic, diplomatic, and geopolitical reasons, especially after 25 years of negotiations and recent shifts in the global economic landscape.

French farmers and officials have raised concerns about increased competition from Latin American imports, prompting France to request a delay in the vote. The final decision rests with the EU Council, while lawmakers are set to vote on a safeguard clause and potential amendments related to reciprocity.

European Commission turns up pressure on France over Mercosur deal

The European Commission is set on signing the Mercosur Agreement before the end of the year, increasing pressure on France to lift its opposition. Supporters of the deal have grown impatient after 25 years of negotiations between the Mercosur countries and the Commission. A Commission spokesperson stressed the urgency of reaching a deal due to a shift in the global geoeconomic landscape. The Commission's expectation remains to sign the EU Mercosur Agreement by the end of 2025, subject to the completion of Council procedures. While it is for the Council to decide on next steps, in the view of the Commission, signing the deal now is a matter of crucial importance, economically, diplomatically and geopolitically. French farmers have increasingly expressed their anger at President Emmanuel Macron, stressing that the deal would expose them to unfair competition from Latin American imports. France has called for a delay to the December deadline, arguing that the right conditions are not yet in place for the vote to proceed. EU lawmakers will vote Tuesday on a safeguard clause proposed by the Commission, with some MEPs adding amendments on reciprocity.

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