EU Member States appear ready to give the green light to the proposed regulation detailing the safeguard clause in the EU/Mercosur trade agreement (see EUROPE 13726/26). At a meeting of experts seconded by the Member States on Thursday 6 November, the Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU noted a consensus to approve the Commission’s text as it stands, according to three sources.
The draft regulation is due to be submitted to the Member States’ permanent representatives to the EU for approval in November.
This stage is crucial for EU countries such as France, which are concerned about the impact of the EU/Mercosur agreement on their farmers.
For their part, MEPs are expected to take more time before adopting a position on the text (see EUROPE 13744/12). (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)