The Brazilian president calls on the leaders of the European Union to show “courage” after the postponement of the signing of the free trade agreement with Mercosur.
Foz do Iguaçu (State of Paraná, Brazil) – “Without political will and without courage on the part of leaders, it will not be possible to conclude a negotiation that has been dragging on for 26 years,” Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared on Saturday at the opening of the South American bloc summit in Foz do Iguaçu, in southern Brazil.
“Yesterday, I received a letter from the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, in which both express the hope of seeing the agreement approved in January,” added the Brazilian president.
Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay had initially hoped to sign the treaty this Saturday, as had the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and most of the EU member countries.
But this signing was ultimately postponed, in the face of anger from European farmers, particularly in France and Italy.
On Friday, dozens of farmers demonstrated in front of the villa of French president Emmanuel Macron in Le Touquet, in northern France, dumping tons of manure, tires and branches at the entrance to the residence. (December 20, 2025)
