Overview
- The Council secured a qualified‑majority mandate empowering the European Commission to sign the EU–Mercosur agreement.
- France, Hungary, Poland, Austria and Ireland voted against and Belgium abstained, while Italy’s late switch to support proved decisive.
- Brussels offered reinforced agricultural safeguards and budget‑timing measures, including reported advances of up to €45 billion in CAP funds, to win backing.
- Farmers mounted new protests, including tractor demonstrations around Paris, over concerns about cheaper South American imports and differing production standards.
- The pact would establish the EU’s largest trade area with Mercosur, remove most bilateral tariffs for a market of 700+ million people, and still faces a European Parliament vote and potential legal challenges.