Spain will work to ensure that the 27 approve the “historic agreement” with Mercosur “by majority”

Ane Barcos/Eduardo González The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, welcomed this Friday the “historic agreement” between the European Union and Mercosur and assured that Spain “will work to ensure that this agreement is approved by majority in the Council”. After more than two decades of negotiations, the European Union and Mercosur concluded this Friday the negotiations of their trade agreement, which the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, described as “beneficial for both parties”, because it will provide important advantages to consumers and companies and includes “solid safeguards to protect the livelihoods of our farmers”. The agreement will have to face opposition from some governments in the bloc, especially France, which described it as “unacceptable”. “Today, the European Union has achieved a historic agreement with Mercosur to establish an unprecedented economic bridge between Europe and Latin America”, said Pedro Sánchez through the social network X. “Spain will work to ensure that this agreement is approved at the Council, because trade openness with our Latin American friends will make us all more prosperous and resilient,” he concluded. For his part, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Business, Carlos Cuerpo, declared, through social networks, that this is “magnificent news” and that the agreement is “an instrument that will articulate and enhance the political and economic cooperation of both regions, which, together, are stronger” and includes “social and environmental benefits as well.” “The European Union and Mercosur have taken a decisive step. We Europeans have sent a clear signal of political commitment to Latin America. Spain has worked tirelessly for this. We will continue to do so for its definitive culmination. Spain: the driving force of Latin America in Europe,” declared, for his part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, through social networks. Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Montevideo accompanied by the Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maroš Šefčovič, with the aim of giving the final push to the negotiations. After more than two decades of talks, the European Union (EU) and Mercosur announced on Friday the conclusion of negotiations for the trade agreement between both regions. The Foreign Minister of Uruguay, Omar Paganini, had already announced on Thursday that all Mercosur countries had expressed their support for the agreement, expressing their confidence that the negotiation process would culminate on Friday. This was confirmed by the head of the Community Executive in a joint press conference with the presidents of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; of Argentina, Javier Milei; of Paraguay, Santiago Peña; and of Uruguay, Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou. The latter, president of Uruguay and current president of Mercosur, highlighted the historical importance of the day, stressing that, although the negotiations lasted for more than 20 years, a common understanding was finally reached between the nations involved. “The agreement does not only involve trade, but also the opportunity for countries with smaller economies to access new markets,” she said, emphasizing that the agreement reached with the European Union is “much more than trade”; it is “a political and strategic alliance.” For her part, Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the progress made and thanked the negotiators for their dedication and perseverance over the years. “Today is a historic day; we are transforming a unique partnership into a tangible reality. This agreement represents one of the largest trade pacts the world has ever seen, opening doors to investment and creating new employment opportunities and better prices for people and companies in both regions,” she said. She stressed that the agreement protects the interests of European farmers through strong safeguards and guarantees the protection of more than 350 EU products. In addition, Mercosur exporters must comply with strict European health and food safety standards. This agreement, considered the largest of its kind, boosts geopolitical, economic and sustainability cooperation, strengthening ties between strategic partners. It offers new trade and investment opportunities, diversifies supply chains and generates significant savings for EU companies, estimated at €4 billion annually in export duties. The agreement also aims to contribute to the fight against climate change, with concrete commitments to stop deforestation and ensure sustainable development. In addition, €1.8 billion of EU support will facilitate a fair green and digital transition in Mercosur countries. France, main opponent Despite the optimism expressed by the head of the Community Executive and the Mercosur countries, the agreement faces strong opposition from France, which considers it "unacceptable." The French government reiterated its disagreement on Thursday, assuring that Paris will continue to "tirelessly defend" its agricultural sovereignty. Von der Leyen, aware of the opposition she could encounter when seeking the support of the bloc's governments, especially from France, expressed her willingness to "discuss it with the EU countries." Once the technical discussions have concluded, the next steps for the EU include the revision of the text by linguistic lawyers and its translation into all official EU languages. Subsequently, the European Commission will present a proposal to the Council and Parliament for the signing and ratification of the agreement. The legal basis of the final agreement will be determined after evaluating the results of the negotiations, which will be reflected in the proposal for its ratification. There are two main models for ratifying the deal: a “mixed agreement”, which requires the approval of the EU and all its member states, or a political package with two separate agreements: a “mixed” framework agreement and an interim agreement, which would only need EU ratification.

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