Paris (EFE).- French President Emmanuel Macron stated on Wednesday that France would oppose the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur “very firmly” if the European institutions, the Commission and the Council, tried to impose it, according to government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon.
Macron made this statement during the Council of Ministers meeting held on Wednesday at the Élysée Palace, on the eve of the European summit at which the EU’s heads of state and government would have to endorse the signing of the commercial treaty with a majority, which is due to take place in Brazil on Saturday.
During a question-and-answer session with the government in the Senate, the Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, specified that if the European Commission “wishes to force through the signing of the agreement between the EU and Mercosur this weekend and submit it to the vote of the European Council,” France will vote against it.
Macron requested a postponement of the signing on Sunday, as he considers the treaty still lacks clarity on the three conditions required by France, Bregeon noted.
These are “solid and operative” safeguard clauses, backed by the European Parliament on Tuesday, which guarantee fair competition by applying the same rules to imported products as to European products, as well as imposing import controls.
France is “not alone” in this request, which is neither “dogmatic” nor against commercial agreements, but rather “common sense” to protect French and European agriculture. As the text stands, “the numbers don’t add up,” the government spokeswoman stressed.
Bregeon was referring to the statements of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who on Wednesday joined Macron’s request, stating that it was also premature for her country to sign the commercial agreement between the EU and Mercosur. She considered it necessary to wait for the package of additional measures to protect the agricultural sector to be finalized.
As of Sunday, France formally submitted its request to postpone the vote scheduled for this week in the European Council until 2026 to obtain the safeguards it demands for the agricultural and livestock sectors.
The agreement would make it easier for South American meat, sugar, rice, honey, and soybeans to enter Europe, opposed by the French agricultural sector.
The agricultural sector has been protesting for days in the south and southwest of France, blocking motorways in protest at the complete culling of cattle herds affected by contagious bovine dermatosis.
In addition, they have expressed their anger over the pact with Mercosur and the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy.
The free trade agreement with Mercosur (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay) will also facilitate European exports of automobiles, machinery, wines, and spirits. EFE
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