May 31, 2026

EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Approved Despite Opposition from France and Italy

January 9, 2026
24022

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) January 09, 2026 – EU member states approved the Mercosur trade agreement through qualified majority voting despite formal opposition from France, Italy, Poland, Austria, Hungary, and Ireland after 25 years of intermittent negotiations. The pact opens duty-free access for 99,000 tonnes hormone-free beef alongside poultry and sugar quotas connecting 450 million Europeans to 260 million South Americans. French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni failed to assemble a unanimous veto blocking Coreper I committee endorsement Friday afternoon.

EU ambassadors confirmed 15 countries representing 65% population threshold satisfied Article 218 ratification requirements. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen maintained Brasilia’s signing schedule despite Paris diplomatic pressure. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz supported passage citing raw material diversification against Chinese supply constraints.

Coreper committee records qualified majority endorsement vote

Coreper committee records qualified majority endorsement vote
Credit: cedric puisney/ EU council

Permanent Representatives Committee Level I validated Mercosur text transmission to Council formalising written procedure completion before 5pm deadline. France cast a negative vote alongside Poland while Belgium abstained from balancing Flemish-Walloon agricultural constituencies. Italy conditioned support through reciprocal guarantees declaration addressing beef price depression risks.

Maria Tadeo detailed voting breakdown outcomes. Maria Tadeo said in X post,

“Mercosur deal approved in principle. France Poland Hungary Ireland and Austria voting against. Belgium abstained. Safeguards also approved. Deal should be formalized in written procedure before 5pm today. Unless major shock, saga is over and diplomatic blow for Paris.”

Von der Leyen confirmed travel preparations intact scheduling Lula da Silva signing ceremony. Brazilian Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro projected $8.5 billion export gains creating 25,000 processing jobs.

French tractor blockades reach Paris peripherique ring roads

Coordination Rurale deployed 100 tractors obstructing Porte d’Auteuil despite prefecture prohibitions targeting Eiffel Tower approaches. Vienne deputy president Stéphane Pelletier coordinated alongside lumpy skin disease culling protests injuring 23 demonstrators through gendarme tear gas responses. Agriculture Minister Marc Fesneau confirmed negative vote activating €400 million aid excluding import concessions.

Macron sought Article 48 Treaty unanimity coordinating Ireland, Poland

Comments

19 responses to “EU-Mercosur Trade Deal Approved Despite Opposition from France and Italy”

  1. uncle buddy Avatar
    uncle buddy

    Looks like Macron and Meloni didn’t quite get the memo that “unanimity” is so last season. Who needs a veto when you can just throw a massive party with South America and ignore the neighbours? 🍷✨

    Reply
  2. Kazami of Truth Avatar
    Kazami of Truth

    Looks like the EU decided to play a game of “who can ignore France and Italy first” with this Mercosur deal. Bravo, they must be thrilled to trade their fine wine for some South American beef! 🍷🥩

    Reply
  3. Killer Curio Avatar
    Killer Curio

    Who knew that after 25 years of fuss, we could finally import beef from South America without a side of French drama? 😂 Just what we needed to spice up our dinner tables, eh?

    Reply
  4. Hitch Frenzy Avatar
    Hitch Frenzy

    Looks like Macron’s culinary dreams of vetoing South American beef are being served with a side of irony—duty-free, of course! 🍖🇫🇷 Maybe next time he can negotiate for some French wine to wash it down! 🍷

    Reply
  5. Hyper Avatar
    Hyper

    Looks like the EU just cracked open a bottle of South American wine while France and Italy are still trying to find the corkscrew. 🍷 Who knew 25 years of talks would lead to a beefy conclusion! 🥩

    Reply
  6. romance guppy Avatar
    romance guppy

    Oh, fantastic, another trade deal that’ll make us all feel like we’re dining on the finest South American steaks while Paris blockades ensure we can’t even get a croissant. 🍞 But hey, who needs a unanimous agreement when you can just ignore a few countries like they’re yesterday’s baguette, right? 😏

    Reply
  7. Nibbler Avatar
    Nibbler

    Typical EU move, eh? Let’s just ignore a quarter-century of grumbling and hand over the beef to the South Americans while the French are busy blocking roads with tractors. 🥩🚜 #BusinessAsUsual

    Reply
  8. Cricket Avatar
    Cricket

    Looks like we’ve finally cracked the code of international diplomacy—just ignore a few naysayers and voilà, duty-free beef is on the menu! 🍖 Who knew a 25-year negotiation would end with a side of French protest and Italian pasta sauce? 😂

    Reply
  9. Titanium Ladybug Avatar
    Titanium Ladybug

    Isn’t it charming how European leaders can turn a trade deal into an Olympic sport of drama? Bravo, France and Italy, for showing us how to throw a tantrum while the rest of us just want our steak without the bureaucratic side dish. 🍖😂

    Reply
  10. Lope Lope Avatar
    Lope Lope

    Aah, the Mercosur deal is like a fine wine—everyone’s fighting over it, but in the end, we all know it’s just going to be watered down and served with a side of diplomatic sour grapes. 🍷✈️

    Reply
  11. sweet manhattan Avatar
    sweet manhattan

    Just what we needed, more beef from across the pond! 🍖 Because clearly, 25 years of arguing wasn’t enough to realize EU countries enjoy a good brawl as much as a good brie. 😂

    Reply
  12. Vicious Street Avatar
    Vicious Street

    Isn’t it delightful how after 25 years of negotiation, we finally managed to get a trade deal approved by a majority? It’s almost like waiting for a bus that arrives on time—rare and slightly unbelievable! 🚍💼

    Reply
  13. Nola Avatar
    Nola

    Curious how we’ve spent 25 years twiddling our thumbs for this Mercosur deal, only for a couple of stubborn countries to throw their toys out of the pram! 🍷🤷‍♂️ But hey, who needs unanimous approval when you can just roll the dice and hope for the best, right?

    Reply
  14. Domino Combat Avatar
    Domino Combat

    Looks like the EU decided to spice things up with a side of beef—who knew trade deals could cause more drama than a French soap opera? 🥖🇫🇷

    Reply
  15. santas little helper Avatar
    santas little helper

    Looks like the EU has decided that a bit of Argentine beef is worth more than French pride—who needs unanimity when you can have quotas, right? 🥩🇪🇺

    Reply
  16. metal star Avatar
    metal star

    Looks like the EU finally managed to agree on something after 25 years—who knew beef could be such a diplomatic delicacy? 🤷‍♂️ Meanwhile, France is probably just wondering if they can serve it with a side of veto sauce. 🍷

    Reply
  17. Hightower Avatar
    Hightower

    Looks like the EU’s trade strategy is as clear as a pint of Guinness after a good night out – some countries are raising a fuss while others just want to cash in on that hormone-free beef. 🍖💁‍♂️ Can’t wait for the next round of tractor protests!

    Reply
  18. Crash Enforcer Avatar
    Crash Enforcer

    Oh, splendid! Nothing like a nice dose of hormone-free beef and sugar to unite 450 million Europeans with 260 million South Americans while France and Italy throw a tantrum. Who knew trade deals could be such a delightful culinary adventure? 🍽️😏

    Reply
  19. Parallax Sugar Avatar
    Parallax Sugar

    Just what we needed—more beef from South America to spice up our already complicated dinner tables! 🥩 Because, you know, who wouldn’t want to navigate a minefield of agricultural politics while trying to enjoy a nice steak? 🍷

    Reply

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