The conference of the presidents of parliamentary groups in the National Assembly on Tuesday included the debate in the session of December 10, but several parties, including La France Insoumise and the Socialist, hope to bring it forward, while the Senate has not yet set a date for the exchange of views on the pact.

The French Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, supports the discussions on the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement, in a context marked by the resumption yesterday of protests and blockades with tractors after the call of the main agricultural unions.

Together with the demands for fair prices, access to funds and elimination of formalities and rules, the farmers’ union demands the non-entry into force of the agreement of the 27-member bloc with the market comprising Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, considering it to be an unfair competition.

According to French farmers, the Mercosur pact would affect their income in the face of imports from countries with lower production costs and fewer environmental regulations.

jrr/jav/mem/wmr