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.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million peop...
Counting is underway in Armenia’s parliamentary elections, with the results of the vote set to determine the makeup of the National Assembly and sha...
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S...
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships ...
Sirens rang out across multiple areas of Israel on Sunday night after missiles were launched from Iran towards the country, the Israeli military said...
Counting is underway in Armenia’s parliamentary elections, with the results of the vote set to determine the makeup of the National Assembly and shape the country's political direction for the foreseeable future. But in Armenia, the final result is not decided by vote percentages alone.
Sirens rang out across multiple areas of Israel on Sunday night after missiles were launched from Iran towards the country, the Israeli military said. Earlier, Tehran's top negotiator in talks with the U.S. threatened to target Israeli and American assets in the region, after Israel struck Beirut.
For about three decades after the Soviet collapse, Armenia anchored its foreign and security policy to Moscow.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 7 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Counting is underway in Armenia's elections. The results of the vote are set to determine the political direction of the country of three million people for the next few years. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is hoping to fend off challenges from several pro-Russia candidates to secure a third term.
Armenian authorities arrested six candidates from the pro-Russian Strong Armenia bloc on Saturday, one day before voters were due to take part in parliamentary elections.
More than 6,000 people gathered outside a vote-counting centre in Seoul on Friday night, demanding this week’s local elections be repeated after ballot shortages left some voters unable to cast their ballots.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has confirmed the number of casualties its citizens suffered as a result of the 5 June drone attacks on the cargo ships Natra and Zircon in the Sea of Azov. In a statement, it said four Azerbaijani citizens were killed and four others were injured.
The U.S. said it struck Iranian radar sites on Qeshm Island and in Goruk after intercepting four drones, while Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they launches retaliatory strikes on four tankers in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted U.S. bases in the Gulf.
The Iranian national football team is set to arrive in North America for the World Cup after finally securing travel documents, but a dispute over U.S. visa approvals continues to cast a shadow over the country's tournament preparations.
At least a dozen people were wounded, two critically, on Saturday (6 June) in Toledo, Ohio, as two shooters traded gunfire, police said.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 7 June, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al‑Zaidi will pay an official visit to the United States, bringing with him a delegation of business leaders, private‑sector representatives and banking officials, in an effort to boost investment and deepen economic ties with Washington.
People across Gaza are facing a worsening humanitarian crisis, with millions struggling to access food, clean water, shelter and medical care as the conflict continues.
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