The German government has expressed confidence that Italy will now approve the European Union trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc, which Brussels hopes to sign next week.
Despite earlier concerns over the deal’s impact on the European Union’s farming sector, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius told reporters
We are very confident that Italy will now agree to this Mercosur agreement.
The signing of the trade agreement between the EU and Mercosur, initially scheduled for the end of December, has been suspended until January 12th, 2026. EU agriculture ministers are set to meet later to address lingering concerns from the farming community.
The European Commission recently announced a €45 billion financial package, allowing farmers early access to funds from the 2028–2034 budget to offset potential losses and support rural communities.
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is reportedly ready to lift Rome’s veto, having secured additional safeguards and import controls that address domestic concerns. If Italy confirms its support at the ambassadors’ meeting on Friday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to travel to Paraguay to sign the deal on January 12th.
France, however, remains firmly opposed, arguing the agreement is “neither fair nor balanced” for European farmers. Paris has even threatened unilateral bans on products treated with pesticides banned in the EU.
