Despite protests, EU pushes ahead
Photo: Michael Probst /AP/TT

Despite protests, EU pushes ahead with Mercosur agreement

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announces the EU will provisionally apply the controversial trade agreement with South America. "Absolutely brilliant news," says Minister of Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa (M).

On Thursday, Argentina and Uruguay signed the comprehensive trade agreement, the Mercosur agreement, which also covers other major South American countries.

And now von der Leyen says the EU is moving forward with implementing the agreement because a majority of EU member states have given their approval. This comes despite a court review of its legality and an objection from France. The court's ruling is expected to take at least a year, according to Benjamin Dousa.

A provisional agreement is precisely that - provisional, says von der Leyen.

Benjamin Dousa believes that the announcement from the President of the European Commission means that negotiations on the so-called Mercosur agreement can begin in two months.

The government believes that increased trade with South America can create over 7,000 jobs in Sweden, especially in the engineering industry.

This is incredibly important for Sweden, and it is especially important now when we need to become less economically dependent on the US, says Dousa.

In addition to the court review, the European Parliament must give final approval to the agreement.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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