BRUSSELS
EU member states on Friday approved a long-awaited free trade agreement with the South American trade bloc Mercosur despite opposition from several countries and ongoing farmers' protests across Europe, according to local media.
EU member states' ambassadors approved the free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc, clearing the way for its official signing on Monday in Paraguay, the Belga news agency reported, citing EU sources.
The deal, covering Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, had been in negotiations for over 20 years and will become the EU's largest trade agreement in terms of population, encompassing more than 700 million people.
"I welcome today’s decision by the Council to approve the EU–Mercosur Agreement. This agreement is good for Europe. It delivers real benefits for European consumers and businesses. It is important for the EU’s sovereignty and strategic autonomy – with this agreement, the EU is shaping the global economy," said EU Council President Antonio Costa on US social media company X.
"It strengthens workers’ rights, environmental protection, and safeguards for European farmers. It demonstrates that rules-based trade partnerships are win-win. Today is a good day for Europe and our Mercosur partners," he added.
The agreement faced delays after EU leaders failed to reach a qualified majority during a summit in Brussels in December.
In response, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed adjustments to the sensitive agricultural section of the deal, addressing concerns raised by Italy, which had opposed the text.
According to sources, France, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and Ireland voted against the agreement, while Belgium abstained amid internal divisions.
Nevertheless, enough members backed the commission's proposal, meeting the threshold of at least 15 countries representing 65% of the EU population. The trade deal now requires approval from the European Parliament, where a simple majority vote is needed.
Earlier Friday, farmers once again staged protests across several European capitals, setting up blockades that disrupted major highways, roads, and border crossings in countries including Belgium, France, Poland, and Greece. The farmers said the pact threatens domestic markets and endangers both agricultural livelihoods and food standards.