Von der Leyen flies to Uruguay Mercosur summit amid French political turmoil

euronews (in English)

While the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen landed in Uruguay to finalize the Mercosur agreement, France, in the midst of a political crisis, continues to voice its opposition to the trade agreement.

Transcript

00:00The controversial signing of a trade deal between the European Union and the Mercosur

00:07countries seems to be closer than ever. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in Uruguay

00:14for a meeting with the group's Latin American member countries on Friday.

00:18Many thanks. The intention is to finalize the last political negotiations to conclude

00:27what would be a groundbreaking and historic partnership agreement between the EU and the Mercosur region.

00:34French President Emmanuel Macron has warned von der Leyen that the deal is unacceptable as it stands.

00:41But France, the main opponent of the pact, is mired in a deep political crisis.

00:46Brussels hasn't said whether the final signature, which would come after 25 years of negotiations,

00:52will take place this week or not.

00:55But this wouldn't be the last step as the European Parliament and EU countries will also get a say.

01:01The agreement with the Mercosur countries, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay,

01:07would create the world's largest tariff-free trade area.

01:11It would allow for increased exports of European goods such as cars.

01:16But it would also allow the import of Latin American meat and agricultural products,

01:20which some countries in Europe, particularly France, have opposed.

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