EU-Mercosur agreement to be presented by early July

The trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries in South America is expected to be officially presented “between now and July,” an EU official told Euractiv.

The timetable for presenting the final legislative text, after six months of legal review and translation, thus coincides with the upcoming meeting of EU agriculture ministers next Monday and Tuesday and the summit of EU heads of state and government on Thursday in Brussels.

António Costa, President of the European Council, said during a visit to Brazil last month that he expected the agreement to be officially ratified by December under the Danish Presidency. "That is the objective (to conclude the agreement by the end of the year). We expect that objective to be achieved," he said.

However, to achieve this objective, the agreement must be presented promptly so that negotiations with the EU Member States and the European Parliament can begin.

However, securing rapid approval from European governments will be a difficult task for the European Commission. In the agricultural countries of France and Poland, for example, where the agreement is viewed as a threat to domestic farmers, there remains strong resistance.

However, French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said on Tuesday that talks were currently underway on an "additional protocol" to the agreement, which would provide additional protective measures for agriculture.

“There is something on the table,” confirmed an EU official.

EU Agriculture Commissioner Christos Stylianides declined to provide details of the protocol during a visit to the livestock market in Ciney, Belgium, on Friday. "I am not the Commissioner for International Trade," he said.

Some MEPs were more open, albeit skeptical. "In reality, nothing is changing at all," said Belgian MEP Benoit Cassart (Renew) during the visit. In his opinion, the text of the agreement remains unchanged.

“I agree, this annex is just an illusion to get the agreement passed,” added his group colleague Michael McNamara from Ireland.

(admin/commissioner)