The European Union has postponed signing its long-awaited free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc until January, after failing to secure sufficient backing from member states, according to media reports.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told EU leaders on Thursday that the deal could not proceed as planned, with opposition from countries including France and Italy preventing the required qualified majority, French broadcaster BFMTV reported.
Von der Leyen had hoped to finalise the agreement at a Mercosur summit this weekend in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. The deal, concluded last December after more than 25 years of negotiations with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, must be approved by a qualified majority of EU governments.
Resistance from France, Poland and other countries has slowed the process, with concerns focused on protecting European farmers from increased competition.
Thousands of farmers protested in Brussels on Thursday against the pact, with some demonstrations turning violent and prompting Belgian police to use tear gas and water cannons.
European lawmakers have approved measures to cap sensitive agricultural imports such as beef and sugar, but critics say these safeguards have been weakened during negotiations between the European Commission, the European Parliament and Denmark, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
Earlier on Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, saying Italy supported the agreement in principle but needed up to a month to secure domestic backing from farmers. Lula confirmed the call and said he would consult Mercosur partners at their upcoming summit on the next steps.
Supporters of the deal, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, have highlighted its strategic importance, saying it could boost EU exports and reduce reliance on China. French President Emmanuel Macron said reciprocity and strong safeguards were essential before opening European markets to South American goods.
President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese...
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the ...
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chaired his first Cabinet meeting, pledging to make the cost of living his government's central priority...
President Donald Trump said the United States will target Iran’s heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain site “pretty soon” as he meets with Lebanese president Michel Aoun. Meanwhile, U.S. forces carried out a 10th consecutive night of strikes on Iran while Tehran continues to target Gulf countries.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 21 July covered the latest escalation in the U.S.-Iran conflict, rising trade tensions between the United States and Canada, and key regional and international developments.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chaired his first Cabinet meeting, pledging to make the cost of living his government's central priority while signalling a broader effort to restore confidence in Britain's government and strengthen its international standing.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for setting up a foolproof public examination system in the country on Tuesday, a day after supporters of the youth-led "cockroach" movement and police clashed as they marched on parliament to protest against question paper leaks.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 20th July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
At least six people were killed and 21 others injured after two earthquakes struck Peru's central Junín region, destroying dozens of homes and triggering a major emergency response.
Kylian Mbappé has become the first player to win the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot on more than one occasion. The French forward won the award presented to the top goalscorer of the tournament for the second time, despite France being knocked out in the semi-finals.
Overnight U.S. strikes caused blackouts in southwestern Iran and hit the northwestern city of Tabriz for the first time. Separately, a U.S. soldier died in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of an unexploded Iranian drone.
Spain are world champions for the second time after Ferran Torres' extra-time winner secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Iran is increasingly relying on its northern ports for imports, with officials saying more than 30% of goods now enter the country via Russia and the Caspian Sea rather than through the Indian Ocean.
Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has chaired his first Cabinet meeting, pledging to make the cost of living his government's central priority while signalling a broader effort to restore confidence in Britain's government and strengthen its international standing.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier have discussed regional developments, transport connectivity, energy cooperation and the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process during talks in Berlin.
Russian strikes hit multiple locations across Ukraine, setting a large hardware store ablaze in the northeastern city of Sumy and damaging a residential building in the country's east, as fighting between the two sides continued to intensify.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for setting up a foolproof public examination system in the country on Tuesday, a day after supporters of the youth-led "cockroach" movement and police clashed as they marched on parliament to protest against question paper leaks.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment