A delegation from the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRI) is to meet with stakeholders from the Brazilian agriculture sector, as the stalemate over the ratification of a trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur continues.
The visit, from 27 to 30 October, will see members of the European Parliament meet with Paulo Teixeira, Brazil’s minister for family agriculture and agrarian development, as well as visit the world’s largest animal protein company. They will also meet with cattle, corn, poultry and soy farmers, and learn about local innovation in plant and animal production systems.
The trip comes amid delays and division over the ratification of the EU-Mercosur trade deal, known as the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA). In December 2024, the EU and Mercosur’s founding members – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay – reached a political agreement on the deal following 25 years of negotiations.
The EMPA, which aims to ramp up bilateral trade and reduce non-tariff and tariff trade barriers between the EU and Mercosur, requires approval from both the European Parliament and EU member states before it can fully enter into force.
This has yet to happen, and there are concerns among some parties – including major EU economies such as France – that the deal will significantly impact EU-based producers and undermine standards.
In a statement issued on 23 October, Veronika Vrecionová, chair of the AGRI committee, described the agreement as “arousing great passion, especially among the agricultural community.”
Vrecionová argued that the trip would provide “a better insight” into the reality of agriculture in Brazil, as well as areas such as food processing and issues related to compliance with EU standards.
The EU is Mercosur’s second-largest trading partner in goods and any new trade deal between the two would represent a major boost for both sides against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and US President Donald Trump’s policy on tariffs.