EU Presidency Targets Next-Week Vote on Mercosur Deal as Signature Remains Unconfirmed

Overview

• The European Commission said internal negotiations are still underway and it cannot confirm a mission or a Dec. 20 signing in Brazil.
• Denmark, holding the EU presidency, signaled plans for a vote early next week to authorize a signature on Dec. 20, though a qualified-majority approval remains uncertain.
• Germany, Spain and Nordic countries are described as supportive, Poland has declared opposition, and the positions of France and Italy are not clear.
• Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said agricultural concerns must be resolved and indicated a European Parliament vote next week, calling for additional guarantees before any signature.
• Mercosur countries say they are ready to sign and Brazil is pressing for Dec. 20, while France is cited as a key holdout and Brazil’s vice president says Paris is trying to delay to January.