2024-02-02 18:48:09
France experienced intense days with the farmers’ revolt. The movement managed to bend the government and had several of its demands accepted, including the defense of blocking negotiations on the free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and Mercosur. But to what extent can President Emmanuel Macron impede the progress of the treaty?
Daniella Franco, from RFI
“There will be a struggle, and France will do everything necessary so that the agreement with Mercosur, as it stands today, is not signed”, declared on Wednesday (31) the French Minister of Economy, Bruno Le Maire, in an interview with the channel CNews.
“When France wants something in Europe, it has enough weight to impose itself”, guaranteed the minister. According to him, this is the strategy adopted by French President Emmanuel Macron: “It is only thanks to him that this agreement is not signed today.”
The free trade agreement negotiated almost 20 years ago between EU and Mercosur countries has come into the crosshairs of French farmers, who consider it unfair competition. One of the main demands of the movement that blocked France over the last two weeks was the interruption of negotiations on the agreement.
As a way of demonstrating support for farmers, Macron took the demand to the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Thursday (1st). A strong supporter of signing the commitment, the conservative leader promised to discuss the issue with the European Council and provide a response soon to the French president.
Difficulties for the veto
According to the news site Médiapart, “theoretically, Paris cannot, from one day to the next, block the progress of negotiations”. The reason is simple: the 27 European countries that make up the European Union authorized a commission of experts to debate with Brazilian and Argentine negotiators the text of the agreement in principle agreed in 2019. When the work is completed, it will be up to the Trade Ministers of the countries involved o validate or reject the final version.
Another possible option for France, if it pursues its objective of blocking the agreement, is to form a group of at least four countries against the text. In this case, the veto would have to be presented during a council of Commerce ministers.
In an interview with the website Public Senate, Elvire Fabry, senior researcher in trade geopolitics at the Jacques Delors Institute, also expresses her skepticism about the possibility. “The vote of a qualified majority would be necessary and some European countries are pushing for the agreement to occur,” she says.
In fact, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Scandinavian countries have defended the text, leaving Macron isolated in the bloc. On Thursday (1st), during the extraordinary EU summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declared himself “a big fan” of the treaty. The head of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, declared that the commitment to Mercosur is “essential in the geopolitical and economic relationship”.
Despite France’s explicit opposition, negotiations took place normally last week between representatives of the European and South American blocs in Brazil. “We are not going to tear up the agreement to go home and stretch out on a sun lounger. Certainly not”, said the head of the EU Trade Commissioner’s office, Michael Hagger. “Discussions at a technical level will continue”, highlighted the European Commission spokesman, Eric Mamer.
Macron’s card?
For part of the French press, Macron’s opposition to the agreement is a strategy to avoid an embarrassment in the European elections. Experts say the treaty is unlikely to be signed before the vote, which will be held from June 6 to 9, and the French government is likely to change camp afterwards.
“France is less against it than it seems,” says the news site Médiapart in the title of an article. “Unofficially, it seems impossible to sign the agreement before the European elections in June, due to its political weight”, reinforces the newspaper Le Figaro.
With the population of rural regions growing sympathy for the extreme right and the president of the National Rally party, Jordan Bardella, leading the voting intention polls, the French government fears that it will suffer a major defeat in the election. Macron’s inveterate defense of the farmers’ demand in Brussels would aim to gain sympathy from the sector and guarantee the vote in June.
During the two weeks of mobilization, the government did not hesitate to demonstrate its complacency with the protests, allowing roadblocks and not repressing demonstrations, as occurred in the protests against the pension reform in 2023. During the 14 days of farmers’ revolt , French Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, negotiated and carried out three blocks of announcements of measures and concessions – something never seen in the six years of Macron’s government.
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