After 25 years of negotiations, the European Union is proceeding on Monday with the signing of the trade agreement with the Mercosur countries in Latin America, following the approval on Friday – through a qualified majority from 15 member-states of the bloc – despite the strong reaction by European farmers.
The European Commission is giving in to French demands by strengthening oversight of the most sensitive agricultural markets, in the hope of defusing resistance from farmers.
While several EU countries and many in the agricultural sector are critical of the planned EU-Mercosur agreement, the German government has proven a champion of the trade deal in hopes of achieving sustainability through cooperation.
