The European Union and South America's Mercosur bloc struck an agreement on a long-delayed free trade deal on Friday, which now, however, faces a tortuous battle for approval in Europe, where there is stiff opposition from France.
After negotiations spanning over 20 years, and five years on from an initial deal, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and her Mercosur counterparts announced an agreement had been reached in the Uruguayan capital Montevideo.
"This is a win-win agreement," von der Leyen said in a press conference in Montevideo alongside the presidents of the main Mercosur nations, including Argentina and Brazil.
"This agreement is not just an economic opportunity, it is a political necessity," she added. "I know that strong winds are coming in the opposite direction, towards isolation and fragmentation, but this agreement is our near response."
Facing strong pushback against the deal from France and EU farmers, von der Leyen had flown in on Thursday ahead of the summit of the bloc which includes farming powerhouses Brazil and Argentina as well as Uruguay and Paraguay.
France, the most vociferous critic of the deal in the EU, has branded it as "unacceptable". Underscoring the obstacles it now faces, French Trade Minister Sophie Primas pledged to resist its next stages, citing environmental and farming concerns.
"This is a win-win agreement," von der Leyen said in a press conference in Montevideo alongside the presidents of the main Mercosur nations, including Argentina and Brazil.
"This agreement is not just an economic opportunity, it is a political necessity," she added. "I know that strong winds are coming in the opposite direction, towards isolation and fragmentation, but this agreement is our near response."
Facing strong pushback against the deal from France and EU farmers, von der Leyen had flown in on Thursday ahead of the summit of the bloc which includes farming powerhouses Brazil and Argentina as well as Uruguay and Paraguay.
France, the most vociferous critic of the deal in the EU, has branded it as "unacceptable". Underscoring the obstacles it now faces, French Trade Minister Sophie Primas pledged to resist its next stages, citing environmental and farming concerns.
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