Macron Confirms French 'No' as EU–Mercosur Deal Heads to Friday Authorization Vote

Overview

• Italy has signaled support after the European Commission offered to advance roughly €45 billion in farm funding from the 2028–2034 budget.
• EU agriculture ministers agreed to bolster support with a guaranteed €293.7 billion CAP budget, a doubled market‑crisis reserve to €6.3 billion, and an extra €40 billion for biotech R&D.
• Trade chief Maroš Šefčovič said the EU plans to zero tariffs on urea and ammonia and will push for temporary carbon border tax exemptions on fertilizers to ease costs.
• France and Ireland said they will vote against, joining Poland and Hungary, yet a qualified majority could still authorize the Commission to sign as early as Monday, Jan. 12.
• French farmers drove tractors into Paris, circling the Arc de Triomphe and clogging roads for about 150 km, as France also imposed a one‑year bar on certain produce containing five pesticides banned in the EU.