EU hopes to sign agreement with Mercosur on January 12

Mercosur denies having been officially informed about the date, which was announced by European diplomats to the press. “Our deadlines are not infinite”, warns the Paraguayan chancellor.

The European Union (EU) hopes to sign the agreement with Mercosur on January 12, in Paraguay, European diplomats told AFP and Efe news agencies. The signing was originally scheduled for this Saturday (20/12), but was postponed due to opposition from European farmers.

Paraguay’s Foreign Minister, Rubén Ramírez, denied having officially received this information. “I read this information in the press. I spoke to Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and asked if he had received any official communication as president pro tempore. He told me no, and I also did not receive any official communication”, stated the Paraguayan minister. Paraguay assumes the rotating presidency of Mercosur this Saturday, replacing Brazil.

Last-minute postponement by the EU

The signing of the agreement was postponed at the last minute due to doubts raised by Italy and France’s rejection. It was necessary for EU member countries to validate the text on Friday by a qualified majority (15 countries representing 65% of the population), but this quorum was not reached.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, declared that the Europeans need “a few more weeks”, which is why they contacted Mercosur to communicate the “slight postponement of the signature”.

Before a signature on January 12, European countries will have to try again to gather the necessary qualified majority. EU officials were optimistic this Friday about this possibility and noted that negotiations with Rome and Paris remain focused on safeguards and possible compensation for European farmers, with which they hope to satisfy both governments.

Mercosur Alert

Mercosur chancellors issued a warning to the European Union this Friday: they will not wait indefinitely. “We are willing to move forward, understanding that Europe has its deadlines to meet its internal institutional requirements, but, at the same time, the deadlines are not infinite,” said Ramírez, after a meeting between Mercosur chancellors in Foz do Iguaçu.

Originally published by DW on 12/20/2025