The obstacles that have so far prevented ratification of the EU/Mercosur trade agreement on the part of the European Union have almost been removed. Speaking in Belém, alongside COP30, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday 6 November that he was “rather positive” about the idea of accepting this agreement. He believes that the safeguard clause proposed by the European Commission meets French expectations.
“If these clauses, which did not exist in the agreement, are properly implemented, then we will consider that this agreement can be acceptable”, said the French President.
All that remains now is for European co-legislators to approve this strengthened safeguard mechanism, and to convince the Mercosur countries not to oppose it, he explained to the press.
At the Council of the EU, the permanent representatives of the Member States (Coreper) are expected to give the green light to the draft regulation in November (see EUROPE 13747/19).
On the same day, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva, affirmed their desire to sign the free trade agreement at the summit of Mercosur countries on 20 December in Rio de Janeiro, as the Brazilian President indicated on the X social network. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)