Dear Chair,

Honourable Members,

At the core of todays debate is the Mercosur agreement.

As you know, this past weekend, I signed this landmark deal in Paraguay, in the presence of President von der Leyen and President Costa.

After flying back this morning, I have come directly here to engage in this crucial debate.

First, let me start by emphasising the utmost importance that both the Commission and President von der Leyen place on our inter-institutional commitments.

We welcome every opportunity for open, candid, and constructive dialogue, and todays debate is testament to that commitment.

We are navigating through a turbulent geopolitical landscape, witnessing the fragmentation of multilateralism and the rules-based order.

Confronting the possible imposition of additional tariffs across the Atlantic.

While witnessing unjustified threats to our territorial integrity and sovereignty.

In this context, the EU-Mercosur agreement sends a compelling message to the world:

  • we choose rules-based trade over power-based trade;
  • multilateralism over unilateralism;
  • mutual benefit over one-sided gains;
  • sustainability over exploitation of nature;
  • we build reliable partnerships founded on friendship and mutual respect.

The EU-Mercosur agreement is an historic achievement, and its strategic significance cannot be overstated.

It is our largest trade deal ever. It will connect over 700 million consumers, boost trade and investment by eliminating high tariffs and barriers.

It will create new jobs and opportunities for businesses, ranging from large corporations to small and medium enterprises to farmers.

This agreement will connect us to critical raw material sources, fortifying the EU industrys competitive edge on the global market while ensuring resilience.

It will strengthen our drive towards sustainability, with the Paris Agreement an essential element.

It also includes ambitious provisions to address deforestation and land-use changes.

As well as provisions on labour rights, human rights, and animal welfare.

The process that led to the signature was one of constant dialogue and systematic engagement with all stakeholders, including with members of this House.

We listened carefully to all concerns, we held discussions across Member States, before national Parliaments, and engaged directly with farmers.

As a result, we put forward an unprecedented set of additional measures, to protect sensitive sectors against any potential negative impacts.

These include:

  • bilateral safeguard measures with enhanced monitoring and regular reports to this House.
  • boosting efforts to ensure our sanitary and phytosanitary standards are met.
  • And ensuring stronger alignment of production standards applied to imported products, including pesticides and animal welfare, in line with our international commitments.
  • In addition, under the new Multiannual Financial Framework proposal, the Commission set out a strong financial Unity Safety Net of 6.3 billion euros to support farmers in the unlikely event the implementation of the agreement has a harmful impact on EU agricultural markets.
  • While proposing that Member States have access to some 45 billion euros that can be mobilised immediately to support farmers and rural communities.

As a result, the agreement before you today has been significantly strengthened to address concerns, making it a very different proposal than the one considered a year, or even just a few months, ago.

Further, the Mercosur agreement follows a legal architecture that has been used before [with Chile] and that draws on commitments we made elsewhere.

Honourable Members,

President von der Leyen tasked me at the start of this mandate with negotiating trade agreements that deliver mutual benefits.

As I pledged before this Parliament in 2024, I remain committed to bringing agreements that serve the interests of European citizens, businesses, and farmers.

That is why I stand before you today to affirm, confidently, that the Mercosur agreement is a good deal for Europe.

One which will strengthen our status as a global trade, investment, and agri-food powerhouse.

Our work does not stop here, it continues. The signature is just the beginning.

Our commitment remains to continue engaging with you, addressing your questions and concerns, and supporting you in the run up to the consent vote.

We hope that at the end of this process you will be persuaded about the value of this agreement and reassured that its benefits will be enjoyed by all.

As we move ahead on the next steps of the decision making, I want to make clear that no decision has been taken on provisional application, and that our focus now is to engage with you to win your support, ahead of crucial votes.

Thank you.