Paris says EU member states can’t vote on the commerce settlement in its present state.
Printed On 14 Dec 2025
France has urged the European Union to postpone a vote on a commerce cope with the South American bloc Mercosur, saying circumstances should not but in place for an settlement.
In an announcement from Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s workplace on Sunday, Paris mentioned that EU member states can’t vote on the commerce settlement in its present state.
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“France asks that the deadlines be pushed again to proceed work on getting the professional measures of safety for our European agriculture,” the assertion added.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen is because of go to Brazil on Monday to finalise the landmark commerce pact, which the 27-member union has been negotiating with the Mercosur commerce bloc for greater than 20 years. The settlement is being negotiated with 4 Mercosur members: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.
However the Fee first has to get the approval of the EU member states earlier than signing any commerce deal, and Paris has made its objection to the cope with the Mercosur international locations clear.
“Given a Mercosur summit is introduced for December 20, it’s clear on this context that the circumstances haven’t been met for any vote [by states] on authorising the signing of the settlement,” the assertion from Paris mentioned.
Earlier on Sunday, in an interview with the German monetary every day Handelsblatt, French Minister of the Financial system and Finance Roland Lescure additionally mentioned that the treaty because it stands, “is solely not acceptable”.
He added that securing sturdy and efficient safeguard clauses was one of many three key circumstances France set earlier than giving its blessing to the settlement.
He mentioned the opposite key factors have been making certain that the identical manufacturing requirements that EU farmers face are applied and correct “import controls” are established.
Farmers in France and another European international locations say the deal will create unfair competitors as a result of much less stringent requirements, which they worry might destabilise already fragile European meals sectors.
“Till we have now obtained assurances on these three factors, France won’t settle for the settlement,” mentioned Lescure.
European nations are anticipated to vote on the commerce pact between Tuesday and Friday, in keeping with EU sources.
The European Parliament will even vote on Tuesday on safeguards to reassure farmers, notably these in France, who’re fiercely against the treaty.
The EU is Mercosur’s second-largest buying and selling accomplice in items, with exports of 57 billion euros ($67bn) in 2024, in keeping with the European Commission.
The EU can also be the largest international investor in Mercosur, with a inventory of 390 billion euros ($458bn) in 2023.
If a commerce deal is authorised later this month, the EU-Mercosur settlement might create a standard market of 722 million folks.
