economy

LIVE: Agricultural Crisis: FNSEA Remains "Mobilized" After Announcement of Postponement to January of the EU-Mercosur Agreement Signing

December 19, 2025 Le Monde
LIVE: Agricultural Crisis: FNSEA Remains "Mobilized" After Announcement of Postponement to January of the EU-Mercosur Agreement Signing

The President of the European Commission announces the postponement of the EU-Mercosur agreement signing to January.

SUMMARY

Ursula von der Leyen announced the postponement to January of the signing of the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur, prompting mobilization by the FNSEA amid an agricultural crisis.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • The signing of the EU-Mercosur agreement is postponed to January.
  • The FNSEA remains mobilized in response to this decision amid an agricultural crisis.
  • The agreement aims to strengthen trade exchanges between the EU and Mercosur.

CORE SUBJECT

Postponement of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement Signing

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced to the leaders of the 27 European Union countries gathered in Brussels that the trade agreement with Mercosur would not be signed as planned on Saturday and that it would have to wait until next month, according to two sources close to the matter. This postponement comes amid an agricultural crisis in Europe, where the FNSEA, the main French agricultural union, declared it remains mobilized in response to this decision. The signing of this agreement, which aims to strengthen trade exchanges between the European Union and Mercosur (a South American bloc including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay), is considered crucial but raises concerns, particularly regarding agricultural and environmental impacts. The FNSEA continues to closely monitor the situation and calls for increased vigilance to defend the interests of European farmers.

KEYWORDS

EU-Mercosur trade agreement postponement agricultural crisis FNSEA Ursula von der Leyen

MENTIONED ENTITIES 5

Ursula von der Leyen

👤 Person_Female

President of the European Commission

European Union

🏛️ Organization

Political and economic organization comprising 27 European countries

Mercosur

🏛️ Organization

South American trade bloc including Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay

FNSEA

🏛️ Organization

National Federation of Agricultural Holders' Unions, main French agricultural union

Brussels

📍 Location_City

City where the leaders of the European Union met

KEY DECISIONS 1

Postponement of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement signing to January

Decision Maker: Ursula von der Leyen
Status: Postponed
Announced: 2025-12-19
Effective: 2026-01
Impact Areas:
international trade European agriculture