He Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albareshe advocated Friday for ratifying the commercial agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur “as soon as possible”, after meeting with his French couple, Jean-Noël Barrot, who reiterated his opposition.
Spain “will do everything possible to ratify as soon as possible,” Albares said during a joint press conference in Paris, where he talked with his counterpart about the bilateral relationship and international crises.
EU and four MERCOSUR members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) The negotiations of a commercial agreement ended in December, which aims to create a free trade zone for 700 million people.
However, the agreement still faces the strong opposition of France and European agricultural groups, which fear a “unfair competition” of the South American Block with environmental and health standards different from those of the EU.
France “continues to ask that this agreement include safeguard clauses, emergency brakes, such as those that We started when certain sectors were destabilized Europeans, particularly during the war in Ukraine, “Barrot reiterated.
The French Chancellor considered “imperative” to achieve “Better relationship with the countries of South America“,” especially with the return of commercial wars “, to guarantee” departures “for the company, farmers and industries of the EU.
“Latin America is the most Eurocompatible region of the planet (…) If we abandon them on this occasion, they have many other potential partners, who do not have the same agenda or the same values as the EU, which do not believe in the fight against the Climate change, “Albares warned.
The French National Assembly (Lower House) will discuss on January 29 a resolution proposal that urges the President’s government Emmanuel Macron to “reject” the ratification of the commercial agreement with the Mercosur.
