Macron: we will certainly not sacrifice our agriculture

On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron appeared at a joint press conference in Warsaw with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, where he addressed the issue of the EU-Mercosur agreement.

Macron acknowledged the need for further discussions and clarifications from the European Commission regarding the proposed deal.

"We still need to analyze its effects on the agricultural sector. I have already stated that I cannot accept the deal in its current form. We are waiting for further details from the European Commission, but it is clear that our agriculture cannot be compromised for outdated mercantile interests," he said. The French president emphasized that trade agreements must align with principles such as ecological responsibility and sovereignty. "Sovereignty also includes agricultural sovereignty, which must not be sacrificed," Macron stressed.

The Mercosur bloc, or the Southern Common Market (Mercado Común del Sur), comprises South American nations including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia.

The European Union and Mercosur finalized negotiations on a free trade agreement, as announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during her visit to Montevideo.

For the agreement to take effect, it must be ratified by EU member states. Poland has voiced its opposition to signing the agreement, citing similar concerns about its impact on agriculture and other sectors.

"Poland does not accept, and we are not alone, we will not accept in this form the agreement with the countries of South America, that is the Mercosur group, on free trade," Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on November 26.