Given the urgent situation facing agriculture, France should leverage its position in the European Council and threaten to suspend its contribution to the EU budget if the agreement proceeds, stated Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, in an interview with France 3.
Bardella believes that the European Union is sacrificing French agriculture because the countries involved in the agreement do not adhere to the production standards that European producers must follow.
Last week, during a visit to Brazil, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed optimism regarding the possibility of the agreement’s approval, although he noted that France would remain vigilant. However, he stated on Wednesday that under current circumstances, the agreement would receive “a firm no from France.”
The agreement between the EU and Mercosur, aimed at facilitating trade between the two blocs, has been under negotiation for two decades. With this agreement, the EU hopes to accelerate exports of products such as cars, machinery, and alcoholic beverages to Mercosur countries—Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay.
In turn, this bloc will find it easier to export agri-food products like beef, chicken, sugar, rice, and soy to Europe.
Platform with Lusa
