The European Commission stated on Tuesday that a significant EU-South America trade agreement, which has been under lengthy negotiation, is still not fully completed. However, discussions are ongoing despite the farmer protests taking place in Europe.
According to commission spokesman Eric Mamer, the EU is persistently aiming to achieve a consensus that aligns with our sustainability goals and addresses our concerns regarding the agricultural industry.
Farmers in numerous European Union countries, such as France and Belgium, have been obstructing major highways in order to protest for improved profits and working conditions.
Many farmers are upset about a variety of problems, but a particular concern for them is the Mercosur agreement.
They are worried that this deal will lower the prices of their crops even more and bring more competition from agricultural exporters in South America.
The shape of an agreement among the original four Mercosur countries – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay – was established in 2019 after almost twenty years of negotiations. However, a final version still requires approval.
The Mercosur agreement has received criticism from the French government.
French authorities indicated that on Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron would engage in discussions concerning the matter with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. These discussions are set to take place during an EU summit that is currently being held in Brussels.
Paris’ opposition to the Mercosur negotiations has led to the suspension of EU discussions, according to officials in Macron’s office.
Mamer stated that there have been “discussions” involving Macron and von der Leyen, although he did not confirm right away whether they would meet on Thursday.
The representative further stated that talks regarding the Mercosur agreement are still ongoing.
“He stated that we maintain communication with our counterparts in the Mercosur, and this continuous exchange pertains to the ongoing negotiations for the trade agreements,” he added, emphasizing that the trade agreement is of significant importance to the European Commission.
– TIMES/AFP
