Paris: France and Poland on Monday called for the EU-Mercosur agreement to be complemented with additional provisions to ensure effective protection of the agricultural sector and the preservation of European standards.
According to Kuwait News Agency, the foreign ministries of both countries emphasized in a joint statement that France and Poland are aligned on the need to strike a better balance within the Mercosur agreement. They reaffirmed their support for fair and reciprocal free trade, and for sustainable trade agreements, which are key drivers of growth, market access, and international influence for companies.
The statement added that the current agreement does not fulfill the necessary conditions to protect European farmers from market disruption risks and to sustainably secure the continent's food sovereignty. Additionally, it noted that the EU-Mercosur agreement does not sufficiently guarantee the protection of sanitary, environmental, animal welfare, and social standards.
The statement concluded by affirming that both partners are convinced European solidarity will be essential to reaching an agreement that serves the interests of all parties involved.