In an interview with La Tribune on Sunday, Roberta Metsola advocates listening and taking into account France's reservations on the EU-Mercosur agreement in preparation.
Concerns surrounding the EU-Mercosur agreement in preparation, particularly among French farmers, are “legitimate”believes the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola, who judges “crucial to take the time to answer it completely”in an interview with La Tribune Sunday .
“I hope that we will achieve a balanced solution which both protects the interests of our farmers, particularly in the most exposed sectors, and unlocks new opportunities for our businesses”she explains. “Disengaging from international trade would deprive us of an opportunity to export our values and standards. If we don't get involved, others will do it for us.”she justifies.
France, opposed to the draft text, is trying to convince other European Union countries to reach a blocking minority to oppose its adoption. For the President of the European Parliament, “Whether the agreement is split or not, whether or not there is a majority vote on the text, we must not isolate member states. Because we cannot say to a country distraught by the decline of a sector and which feels abandoned: “Sorry, but we will not listen to you!”.
Unfair competition
Farmers in France have relaunched their mobilization, less than a year after a historic revolt, to protest in particular against the free trade agreement with Mercosur that the European Commission, pushed by countries like Germany and Spain , seems determined to sign before the end of the year.
In their eyes, this text would lead to unfair competition, notably with a surge of Argentinian or Brazilian meat not subject to the strict health and environmental standards of the European Union.
The French political class, with rare unanimity, supports this opposition and President Emmanuel Macron has constantly insisted, throughout a tour of South America, that he refuses the agreement “as is”.
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