Euractiv | 20 June 2025
EU-Mercosur deal to be presented by early July
by Alice Bergoënd et Sofia Sanchez Manzanaro
The EU-Mercosur trade deal is expected to be formally presented "between now and July," an EU official told Euractiv.
The timeline for presenting the final legal text – following six months of legal scrubbing and translation – coincides with the upcoming meeting of EU agriculture ministers next Monday and Tuesday, and the EU leaders’ summit in Brussels on Thursday.
European Council President António Costa, during a visit to Brazil last month, said he expected the deal to be officially ratified by December, under the Danish Council Presidency. "That's the goal (to finalise the agreement by the end of the year). The expectation is that the goal will be achieved," he said.
To meet that target, the agreement would need to be presented imminently in order to kick off negotiations with EU member states and the European Parliament.
Yet securing swift approval from EU capitals will be an uphill battle for the European Commission. Strong resistance persists from agricultural heavyweights France and Poland, where the deal is viewed as a threat to domestic farmers.
But French Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard said on Tuesday that discussions were underway on an "additional protocol" to the agreement, including additional safeguards for agriculture.
"Something is on the table", an EU official confirmed.
EU farming chief Christophe Hansen declined to give any details when asked about the protocol during a visit to the Ciney livestock market in Belgium on Friday. “I am not the commissioner for international trade”, he said.
Some lawmakers were more open – albeit sceptical. “In reality, it changes nothing at all” said Belgian MEP Benoit Cassart (Renew) during the visit, meaning that the text of the deal will not change.
“I agree, this annex is just a mirage to get the agreement passed,” added his group-colleague, Ireland's Michael McNamara.
