Macron says the EU-Mercosur agreement is “terrible” and defends new negotiations

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, defended this Wednesday (27) giving up the current negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union and starting over from scratch the drafting of a new trade agreement. He stated that the current text is “terrible” for both the South American and European blocs “because it was negotiated 20 years ago.”

Macron participated in the Brazil-France Economic Forum, held at the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp), in the capital of São Paulo. The French president defended the resumption of negotiations considering “today’s world”, including points such as the protection of biodiversity and the climate.

“Let’s put an end to 20 years ago and build a new agreement based on our objectives, on our realities. In other words, a trade agreement that is responsible, from the point of view of development, climate and biodiversity. An agreement of new generation”, he stated.

He emphasized that he cannot accept a pact that allows foreign companies to export to France without guarantees that they meet the environmental requirements imposed on the country’s industrialists and farmers.

Alckmin and Haddad defended the agreement at the event

Before Macron’s statement, the vice-president, Geraldo Alckmin (PSB), had defended the agreement. “Mercosur expanded to one more country this year, which is Bolivia. We made an agreement with Singapore and there were talks with the European Union. President Lula always says that there has to be reciprocity. It’s a win-win. We conquered the market, we opened the market”, said Alckmin.

Earlier, Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said that Lula “will continue to insist” on negotiations. The minister even compared a possible agreement between Mercosur and the European Union with the approval of tax reform in Brazil, reported the Brazil Agency.

“We must not give up on this agreement. If it was possible to approve tax reform after 40 years, why not after 20 [anos] approve a good agreement between the European Union and Mercosur”, said Haddad when speaking during the event.

Negotiations between Mercosur and the European Union for a trade agreement began two decades ago, and the two blocs reached an agreement in principle in 2019. However, final negotiations were paralyzed due to environmental demands introduced last year by a group of European countries led by France.

Macron has a schedule in Brazil until this Thursday (28), São Paulo is the penultimate stop of the trip. He has already been to Belém and Itaguaí (RJ). The French president will be received by President Lula in Brasília this Thursday.