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.
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