France tries in Brussels to rally support against EU-Mercosur deal

One of the reasons "that brings me here today is a dialogue of persuasion with my European colleagues on the issue of Mercosur," declared French Minister of Foreign Trade Sophie Primas, before a meeting with her counterparts from the European Union. France is opposed to the conclusion, "as it stands," of a free trade agreement between the EU and the Mercosur countries (Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay). Bolivia is a member of Mercosur but is not a party to this agreement. It hopes to rally other European countries to achieve a blocking minority within the EU Council, which brings together the 27, and whose agreement is necessary once the negotiations are completed. The European Commission is still negotiating this agreement, on behalf of the 27, but does not hide its intention to reach a conclusion before the end of the year. European negotiators are going to Brazil next week, where they hope to settle the final details of an agreement, before signing it in early December, at ...