Europe (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed early access to agriculture funds to support farmers ahead of key Mercosur trade talks.
Prior to a conference to explore a trade agreement with Mercosur, the EU Commission granted member states early access to some agriculture funding from the EU budget for 2028–2034.
“To ensure additional resources are available as of 2028 for addressing the needs of farmers and rural communities, I propose that member states will have access when submitting their initial plan to up to two thirds of the amount normally available for the midterm review,”
she said in a letter addressed to the member states and the parliament.
“This represents about 45 billion euros ($52.70 billion) that can be mobilised immediately to support farmers,”
she added.
In an attempt to persuade Italy, she issued the letter the day before a last-minute meeting of EU farm ministers.
Additionally, other hesitant members should agree to a controversial free trade agreement with the South American group Mercosur.
Why do France and Italy oppose the Mercosur deal?
France and Italy oppose the EU – Mercosur trade deal substantially because of enterprises over illegal competition for their growers, weaker environmental protections, and shy enforcement of EU ‑ original norms on South American significances.
The French government argues that Mercosur exporters could undercut EU growers with cheaper beef, flesh, sugar and other products produced under looser rules on fungicides, beast weal and labour, demanding “ glass clauses ” so that significance meets EU norms.
Paris also fears the deal would fuel deforestation in countries like Brazil, undermining EU climate pretensions; expert reports for the French government advised of an implicit rise in Amazon deforestation linked to increased beef product after ratification.
