Emmanuel Macron “reiterated”, this Thursday, December 5, to Ursula von der Leyen that the draft trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries was “unacceptable as it stands”, affirmed the Elysée while the president of the European Commission is in South America.
“We will continue to tirelessly defend our agricultural sovereignty,” added the French presidency in a message published onwhile Ursula von der Leyen has just arrived in Montevideo (Uruguay) for a key summit, where she could finalize this agreement despite strong opposition from France.
“Landing in Latin America. The finish line of the EU-Mercosur agreement is in sight. Let’s work together, let’s cross it,” the President of the Commission wrote on the same network on Thursday, announcing her participation in the summit of Mercosur countries. This free trade agreement is denounced by France, which is concerned about its impact on the environment and European farmers.
Despite strong opposition from Paris, which denounces its impact on the environment and European farmers, the Commission wants to conclude the negotiations started more than 20 years ago with countries from the Latin American bloc (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay) .
Ursula von der Leyen “takes a responsibility and a risk” if she concludes the negotiations in Montevideo, warned a French diplomatic source. “The final content of the negotiated agreement has not yet been presented to any member state” of the European Union, added this source. The Commission “must legally obtain the agreement of the Council”, which brings together the heads of state or government of the Twenty-Seven, “to be authorized to sign it”, she stressed.
“A real provocation”
Ursula von der Leyen also announced that she would participate on Saturday in the reopening ceremony of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, where around fifty heads of state and government are expected, including the elected president of the United States Donald Trump. She will therefore also meet Emmanuel Macron there.
The announcement of Ursula von der Leyen’s trip to South America comes at a time when France seems to be weakened politically with the fall of Michel Barnier’s government.
“The presence in Uruguay of Ursula von der Leyen, who boasts of accelerating the finalization of the agreement with Mercosur, is a real provocation,” wrote on the president of the National Rally Jordan Bardella, calling on Emmanuel Macron to “announce France’s firm and definitive no to this dangerous agreement” in his speech to the French scheduled for Thursday evening. “France must clearly say that it will never accept this agreement!” added the coordinator of La France insoumise Manuel Bompard. The draft treaty, discussed since 1999, aims to eliminate the majority of customs duties between the European Union and Mercosur in order to create a vast market of more than 700 million consumers.