EU Mercosur Agreement: Austria's chances of 32,000 new jobs!

EU Mercosur Agreement: Austria's chances of 32,000 new jobs!

Laimgrubengasse 10, 1060 Wien, Österreich - Negotiations on the EU Mercosur Agreement take up speed! Today, on December 6, 2024, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, heralded the last steps to complete the agreement in Uruguay. "Touchdown in Latin America, the finish line of the EU Mercosur Agreement is in sight," posted Von der Leyen on Twitter. This agreement could create one of the world's largest commercial and investment partnerships and lead both regions to a new economic era, as it continues to emphasize. However, the agreement that was reached in 2019 was repeatedly blocked due to concerns about environmental protection and agriculture, especially by France, which confirmed his resistance to the agreement.

Economy and the Environment focus

Anna Stürgkh, Neos European Member, praised the agreement as the basis for a strong economic partnership and at the same time for strict European environmental standards in trade in South America. "While China and the United States are expanding their influence in South America, Europe shows with this agreement that economic progress and sustainability can go hand in hand," said Stürgkh. For Austria, this means over 32,000 secure jobs, which makes the country's export-oriented economy particularly important, such as OTS reported.

Nevertheless, France remains a great opponent of the agreement and continues to demand stronger guarantees for his agricultural sovereignty. The French government has made it clear that the current agreement is "unacceptable" and intends to make other EU countries to stand against the conclusion. This resistance could significantly influence the negotiations, especially since a blocking minority of at least four Member States would be necessary to prevent the agreement, such as Euronews . The debate is therefore not only about economic aspects, but also about profound environmental and agricultural standards that have to be integrated into the agreement.