French President Emmanuel Macron said this Wednesday in Brazil that the trade agreement being negotiated between the European Union and the South American bloc Mercosur is “a very bad agreement” and called for the creation of a “new one”.
“I prefer to stand firm,” he said at an economic forum in Sao Paulo, southeast Brazil, adding: “As discussed today, this is a very bad agreement, both for you and for us.”
“There is nothing in this agreement that takes into account biodiversity and climate issues. There is nothing. That’s why I say it is not good,” he told an audience of Brazilian businessmen on the second of three days of a state visit. from Emmanuel Macron to Brazil, and this is part of the international ambitions that the two heads of state intend to advance before the COP30, which will be held in the Brazilian city of Belem in 2025.
The French President called for another agreement that takes into account environmental concerns for both the EU and MERCOSUR (Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Bolivia).
“Let’s end the MERCOSUR of 20 years ago. Let’s create a new agreement (…) that is responsible in terms of development, climate and biodiversity,” he continued.
The French President has repeatedly spoken out against this trade agreement, the rules of which, in his opinion, are not uniform with European rules.
The draft treaty, which began negotiations in 1999, aims to eliminate most customs duties between the two zones, creating an area with more than 700 million consumers.
After reaching a political agreement in 2019, the opposition of several countries, including France, blocked its final adoption. This opposition has intensified due to the agricultural crisis ravaging Europe.
Other European countries, such as Germany and Spain, defend its conclusion and entry into force.
At the beginning of the month, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who is on an official visit to Brazil, expressed confidence in the signing of a trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, despite opposition from France.
Europe “after the war in Ukraine learned the lesson that it is necessary to find new partners and diversify political, economic and business relations.”
“It would be great for the European Union to get an agreement,” as it “will contribute to changing global geopolitics,” he stressed.
After a day in the Amazon, Lula da Silva and Macron traveled to Rio de Janeiro today to visit the naval complex located in the municipality of Itaguaí, where the Franco-Brazilian submarine program is being developed.
From Rio de Janeiro, Macron headed to Sao Paulo and arrived in Brasilia on Thursday to meet Lula da Silva at the Palacio do Planalto.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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