“stab”, “headlong authoritarian rush”, “brutal method” or even “forced passage”… From the LFI to the RN, passing through the PS, LR and the macronie, the entire French political class harshly criticized the conclusion of the negotiations trade between the EU and Mercosur, announced by the European commission on Friday.
The words are more or less violent, but there is indignation at the rudeness inflicted by the President of the Commission Ursula von der Leyen, to whom Emmanuel Macron had, just the day before, given the categorical “no” for the umpteenth time. of France.
Wiht a slight smile on her lips, the German still appeared in front of the cameras to praise “the greatest trade and investment partnership the world has ever known”, from Montevideo (Uruguay), where a summit of the five countries was taking place the Latin American free trade zone (Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia).
“We are sending a strong message to the planet: democracies can count on each other,” he launched in a decidedly geopolitical argument. and the curator notes: “I know that strong winds blow in the opposite direction, in the direction of isolation and fragmentation (…). »
The anger of the farmers
The violent wind that risks rising again in the face of Brussels’ decision is that of farmers’ anger: the free trade project, supported by the majority of EU member countries (Berlin in the lead), is in fact criticized throughout the world French farmer, where there is fear of unfair competition from imports that do not meet the same standards.
“A stab in the back of the farmers: this is how Manon Aubry, leader of the far-left MEPs in Strasbourg, was strangled. A danger to our health.An ecological disaster. A democratic scandal”, denounced Insoumise.
🚨🚨🚨 The Commission 🇪🇺 announces the signing of the EU- #Mercosur
With the complicity of Macron, who did nothing.
A stab in the back of farmers. A danger to our health. An ecological disaster.
A democratic scandal.
An absolute SHAME! pic.twitter.com/ksaTaH63u6
— Manon Aubry (@ManonAubryFr) December 6, 2024
“This stab in the back of the French people is an unprecedented threat against our democracy and a headlong authoritarian drive that France cannot tolerate,” reproached Marine Le Pen.
<section class="content rnrn
Even if the National Assembly rejected the free trade agreement with Mercosur,the European Commission,not caring about the sovereign vote of the deputies,imposes its diktat. This stab in the back of the French people constitutes an unprecedented threat against… https://t.co/TlWOQo80X3
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_official) December 6,2024
The spokesperson of the outgoing government Maud Bregeon denounced in X a “disregard for our agricultural sovereignty and environmental needs”. For her it is “a severe blow to the bond of trust between the French and Europe”.
“France is being trampled upon”
In Brussels the cry of the Italian orphans is terrifying. “Talking about the denial of democracy is a farce,” replies Jean-Luc demarty, former director general of Foreign Trade of the European commission, who underlines that the EU executive “has in no way exceeded its powers” and has also not “ in fact he did not sign the agreement but only concluded the negotiation”.
Brussels, in fact, cannot act alone: the political compromise signed on Friday will now have to be converted into a legal text and then presented to the European Parliament and the Member States, who will vote by a qualified majority (fifteen countries representing 65% of the EU population ), possibly within six to twelve months.
The fact remains that the European executive is usually careful not to take such a step without the approval of France, the EU’s second most powerful country. Enough to fuel anti-European sentiment in France? “It’s a brutal method,france is being trampled on and the French will inevitably be incomprehensible,” judges MEP Chloé Ridel,spokesperson for the PS.
The episode is at least symptomatic of Paris’ loss of influence on the European scene after the dissolution and, even more so, after the fall of Michel Barnier’s government on Wednesday. The timing is not at all coincidental: the Commission took advantage of the French political chaos to rush to conclude the talks.
“Who brought down the government? As far as I know, she is not Ursula von der Leyen.”
Do the left-wing parties and the RN,having each voted in favor of censorship,therefore have some obligation? “Who brought down the government? As far as I know,she is not Ursula von der Leyen. It is the RN in particular, the very one that defines itself as the great defender of French interests and yet weakens the French political line with this irresponsible behavior”, says MoDem MEP Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, head of the delegation. Macronist in Strasbourg.
Same refrain from Gabriel Attal, who rebuked Marine Le Pen last Friday
.<a href="https://twitter.com/MLP_officiel?ref_src
The European Commission has just announced today the conclusion of an agreement between Europe and Mercosur.
I said it on Wednesday in front of the national Assembly: destabilized by the lack of a stable government, France could see its influence weakened… pic.twitter.com/bHR9BbvuIv
— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) December 6, 2024
“On a European scale, it is like this: if a country is stuck in an endless political crisis, the others do not wait for the end of its collective psychoanalysis to make decisions,” confirms Olivier Costa, research director of the CNRS at Cevipof.
And the political scientist underlines that “France can always hope to bring together a blocking minority” at the table of the Twenty-Seven. This will require bringing together countries that share agricultural issues, such as Poland, Austria and Italy, which are hesitant. A nice test in outlook for French influence in Europe.
How might the EU adjust its trade policies in response to criticisms from member states like France?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Trade & Agricultural Policy Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news,where we dive into the most pressing topics of our time. Today, we have Dr. Claire Dupont, a renowned expert on trade and agricultural policies in the European Union. Dr. Dupont, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Dupont: Thank you for having me. I’m delighted to discuss these crucial issues.
Editor: There’s been significant backlash against the recent conclusion of the trade negotiations between the EU and Mercosur, labeled by various political figures as a ”stab in the back” for farmers. What are the implications of this trade agreement for French farmers?
Dr. Dupont: The sentiment among French farmers, as expressed by political leaders like Manon Aubry and Marine Le Pen, reflects a deep concern over potential unfair competition. French agricultural standards are quite stringent, and the fear is that imports from Mercosur countries may not adhere to the same regulations, leading to an influx of cheaper products that could undermine local farms.
Editor: Indeed, the fears seem justified as farmers are already struggling. What’s your take on the balance between trade liberalization and protecting domestic industries, specifically in agriculture?
Dr. Dupont: It’s a delicate balance. Trade agreements are designed to enhance economic ties and mutual growth, but they must also take into account the specific needs of domestic sectors. The French agricultural sector has been vocal about needing protections to ensure they can compete fairly. The challenge is to create policies that allow for growth while safeguarding essential industries.
editor: A point raised in political discourse is the perceived dictatorial approach of the European Commission, particularly from Ursula von der Leyen this past week. How does this affect the relationship between EU institutions and member states like France?
Dr. Dupont: It’s a significant issue. The EU operates on a system of shared sovereignty, and when national interests, particularly those of influential countries like France, seem to be overlooked, it triggers a sense of betrayal. Politician maud Bregeon mentioned the necessity of maintaining trust between France and Europe,which is essential for the EU’s cohesion.
Editor: Critics accuse the EU of treating member states as mere players in a global game. How do you respond to those who feel that this agreement undermines democracy?
Dr. Dupont: While I understand the frustration, it’s significant to remember that negotiations are complex and involve compromises. The EU’s role is to find a middle ground that frequently enough necessitates painful decisions for individual member states. However, communication and transparency in these processes are vital, and if the institutions fail in that regard, it can lead to disillusionment with the EU itself.
Editor: Speaking of communication, do you think the EU has adequately engaged with local concerns, especially in relation to agricultural sovereignty?
Dr. Dupont: There’s always room for improvement. The EU periodically engages with stakeholders, but the perceptions of many, particularly farmers, suggest a disconnect. More proactive engagement and genuine dialog about the impacts of these agreements might help bridge that gap and foster a sense of accountability.
Editor: Considering these tensions, what could be next for EU-Mercosur relations, especially with the backdrop of strong opposition from French political leaders?
dr. Dupont: It’s likely that we’ll see heightened negotiations around specifics like import quotas and standards moving forward. The pushback from French authorities could prompt a reassessment of how trade agreements are approached, ensuring that they adequately protect national interests.Ultimately, both sides will need to engage constructively if they seek to realize the potential benefits of such a partnership.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Dupont, for your insights on this timely and critical issue. It’ll be interesting to see how these dynamics unfold in the coming months.
Dr.Dupont: Thank you for having me, and I look forward to seeing how this situation develops as well.
Editor: That’s all for today’s interview. Join us next time on Time.news as we continue to unpack the complexities of global trade relations.
