European Union agriculture ministers gathered in Brussels for a special session to secure backing for a controversial trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries. The meeting brings together all 27 EU member states’ agriculture ministers ahead of a pivotal council vote scheduled this month as EU officials press to advance what would become the bloc’s largest tariff-reduction pact. Supporters, including Germany and Spain, argue the accord will expand export opportunities and strengthen ties with key partners, while sceptics, particularly France and Italy, continue to voice concerns about potential impacts on domestic farm sectors and environmental and health standards. To address these concerns, EU officials outlined proposals for enhanced financial support for farmers and possible safeguards on agricultural imports. The discussions come amid mounting pressure to conclude the deal after years of negotiation and ahead of the anticipated vote by member states.

The Mercosur trade agreement is a proposed partnership between the European Union and the South American Mercosur trading bloc, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The pact is designed to lower tariffs on a wide range of goods between the two regions and establish more predictable rules for trade and investment across sectors including agriculture, industry and services. It also incorporates provisions on regulatory cooperation, protection of geographical indications for food products and mechanisms to uphold environmental and health standards, while managing sensitive import quotas for items such as beef, poultry and sugar. The agreement has been under negotiation for decades and, if formally approved and ratified, would create one of the largest free-trade areas in the world in terms of population and economic activity.