France is “not isolated” in its opposition to the EU-Mercosur agreement, says Emmanuel Macron

Since the G20, the President of the Republic has repeated that he does not wish to “import agricultural products which do not respect the rules that we have imposed on ourselves” in environmental and health matters.

France is not alone. Emmanuel Macron affirmed, Monday November 19, at the G20 in Rio de Janeiro that France was not “not isolated” in his opposition “as is” to the trade agreement between the European Union and the Latin American countries of Mercosur. The President of the Republic affirmed in front of journalists that several countries “join” the French position.

“This text (…), because it has been in progress for several decades, is based on prerequisites which are obsolete.”

The head of state put forward the idea of “rethink the relationship with this sub-region, either Mercosur, or perhaps Brazil, because I understand that Argentina perhaps does not want to do it in a regional framework”. He explained that he “propose” to Brazilian President Lula to initiate “new work to try to develop a joint investment framework, but one that protects” French and European agriculture.

“In this regard, we really want not to import agricultural products which do not respect the rules that we have imposed on ourselves” in environmental and health matters, he argued. French farmers have launched a new mobilization, in particular against the agreement with Mercosur, the regional bloc which notably includes Argentina and Brazil. To be sure of being able to oppose it in the event of signature, France must bring together a blocking minority within the EU. Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida spoke out against the project in its current form on Monday.

Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon also promised Tuesday that France would continue “to hold a standoff for as long as necessary” with the President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen against this trade treaty. She also wished “personally”that“there can be a debate in the National Assembly followed by a vote”in order, she argued on TF1, to “strengthen the position which is that of the president and that of the Prime Minister”.