Brussels (ANSA) – In the evening, Ursula von der Leyen notified EU leaders of a decision that had been uncertain until the last moment, agreeing to Italy and France’s request to delay the signing of the EU-Mercosur agreement to January, initially planned for Saturday, December 20. Earlier in the day, Palazzo Chigi had put the deal on hold, marking an unprecedented alignment with Emmanuel Macron.
The government emphasized the need for “the necessary answers for farmers,” seeking assurances of reciprocity and additional time. This message was conveyed amidst rising tension in the European Council regarding the issue of frozen Russian assets. Outside, concerns echoed from farmers in Belgium, Poland, and Ireland, manifesting in protests with an estimated 8,000 demonstrators and nearly a thousand tractors, also opposing cuts to the CAP in the upcoming EU budget.
This unrest contrasted with the urgency promoted by the European Commission, alongside Berlin and Madrid, to finalize a partnership seen as crucial for market diversification and a response to the tariffs imposed by Donald Trump. “I was surprised to find that Italy, along with France, did not wish to sign the agreement,” stated Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from across the Atlantic, representing Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia.
A preliminary dialogue attempt occurred with a face-to-face meeting with Meloni: the Brazilian leader noted that the Italian Prime Minister “is not opposed, but is under pressure from the agricultural sector and asked for patience: a week, ten days, or at most a month.” This time is intended to calm street protests and potentially revise the agreement to include stronger provisions.
However, for Brussels—also under pressure from Macron, who expressed concerns about the feasibility of the deal—safeguards are already proposed and have received initial approval from both the European Parliament and national governments. Von der Leyen, supported by four commissioners, defended this stance during a meeting with more amenable farmers, including representatives from Copa-Cogeca, Confagricoltura, and Coldiretti, who had protested nearby in the European quarter.
As the planned departure of the Commission President to Foz do Iguacu on Saturday gradually diminished, it became clear that the January postponement remains the lesser evil. The next opportunity for action occurs during the transition of the Mercosur rotating presidency from Brazil to Paraguay on January 20, allowing for an additional month of negotiation (December 18).
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