Mercosur and European Union define free trade agreement

The uproarious Mercosur summit, with the arrival of the president of the European Commission, predicted good winds in negotiations with the European bloc. Envisioning the conclusion of the free trade agreement, members of the South American base defined the presence of Ursula Von der Leyen as a key factor for the negotiations to conclude this matter, making the agreement official after more than two decades of ungrateful attempts.

Awaiting the missing parliamentary ratifications, and paralyzed since 2019, the treaty was restarted post-transition under the Lula government. However, French protectionism, always raising the wall one level higher with each “almost stroke”, seeks to sour the South American soup of victory. “The global geopolitical and economic reality shows us that integration strengthens our societies, modernizes our productive structures and promotes our more competitive insertion in the world”, said President Lula in a speech at the Summit. The fearful scenario designed by the strategic “qualified minority” continues to hinder the definitive 'OK'.

_{Mercosur and European Union flags (Photo: reproduction/Wikimedia Commons/Mr Giménez)}

Protectionism

In question, the so-called “qualified minority” is the portion of the European Union (EU) opposed to the agreement. Provided by the EU, the mechanism is a security measure against unilateral decisions, preventing countries with greater advantages, economic strength and political power from unbalancing the bloc's actions. From this perspective, some opponents have been forcing Mercosur to juggle without a arena or party until the political potboiler ends. After going through the negotiation phase, the text of the agreement must be approved by the Council of the European Union. In numerical terms, this reflects 55% support from the bloc's countries; composed of 27 countries, it will need 15 in favor. The protectionism wing needs at least four supporting countries, totaling 35% of the European bloc's population. Headed by France, which is looking for more allies, and with Poland already declaring itself a supporter, the movement is also looking for Italy, the Netherlands and Austria to, finally, definitively force the decision not to close the agreement. Demonstrations spread across Europe by members of agribusiness in an attempt to stop the project.

_{Luis Alberto Lacalle and Lula during the Mercosur Summit (Photo: reproduction/Instagram/@mercosurint)}

Outcome

On the other hand, the end of the soap opera may be closer than you imagine. Favorable to the agreement, Von der Leyen, the main coordinator for the resolution, even in the face of the minority force against the positive outcome for Mercosur, breaks the discomfort of the Franco-articulating movement in the face of the European community. In recent weeks, even the French supermarket chain Carrefour was involved in controversies within the context of these negotiations, but retreated.

Another culmination of the formidable decision for the South American alliance is Trump's victory in the USA. The kickoff to unlocking the agreement in 2019 took place through the first election of the president, due to the proliferation of uncertainties in a geopolitical scenario full of doubts regarding the modus operandi of the North American government. When lightning strikes again in the same place and clouds form over the heads of European leaders, political experts plotting a new direction in all this crying, are optimistic not only about the text of the agreement, but about the EU's definitive response to the fact.

Fearful about the presence of China and Russia in South America, with the influential strength of the BRICS and their economic movement in an extremely important market for the world, and still under threats of taxation from Trump and the “breakdown” of relations, If they create a new currency for international negotiation, the EU can seal the deal, despite the French tantrum with its troupe in Europe's backyards. “In light of the progress made since 2023, the Partnership Agreement between Mercosur and the European Union is now ready for legal review and translation. Both blocs are determined to conduct such activities in the coming months, with a view to the future signing of the agreement”declared in a note the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Lula, in turn, in another incisive statement brought to light history, a generational cry about the outcome of the dream set by visionary leaders of the recent past, “It was in this spirit that, 33 years ago, President Lacalle Pou's father and the then presidents of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay signed the Treaty of Asunción, which continues to be instrumental in overcoming a past of authoritarianism in our region. Freedom, in all its manifestations, is an essential component of a healthy democracy. But it must be associated with the protection of the rights and freedoms of others, and the political order itself. peaceful societies, free from fear and violence”. And yet, “May we have, in MERCOSUR, Pepe Mujica's sense of justice and inclusion. In a historic speech, at the UN, in 2013, he said and I repeat: “I am from the South and I come to this Assembly from the South. I unequivocally carry the millions of poor compatriots, in the cities, in the deserts, in the jungles, in the pampas, in the depressions of Latin America, the homeland of all that is being formed””he concluded.

The meeting in Montevideo, at the Mercosur Summit, revitalized the road to convergence of the agreement. With the feeling of mission accomplished, post-agreement leaders increase the fight hand in hand with the EU, not only against French protectionism and its allies and North American threats in the caricatured figure of Donald Trump, but, moving towards a new time in international negotiations and free trade for the good of an entire diversified production chain, breaking the boundaries of socioeconomic segregation, providing conditions for a fairer and more balanced world.

Featured photo: Ursula Von der Leyen speaking at the Mercosur Summit (Reproduction/Instagram/@mercosurint)