INFOGRAPHIC: see the main moments of the 25 years of negotiations on the EU-Mercosur agreement

European Union approves historic agreement with Mercosur The European Union countries approved the trade agreement with Mercosur this Friday (9). The decision paves the way for the formal signing of the treaty, scheduled for January 17th. To enter into force, the treaty will still need to be approved by the European Congress and the legislatures of South American countries. 📱Download the g1 app to see news in real time and for free The pact between the two blocs is the result of more than 25 years of negotiations, marked by political, economic and strategic changes in both South America and Europe. To remember the main moments of this process, g1 prepared an infographic that summarizes the timeline of the negotiations. It all started in 1991, when Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay signed the Treaty of Asunción, which created Mercosur. The European Union quickly began to see the bloc as a strategic partner, with political and economic weight in the region. In 1994, the idea of ​​a formal agreement gained momentum. At that time, the proposal for the Free Trade Area of ​​the Americas (FTAA), led by the United States, attracted international attention. The EU sought to expand its presence in South America and counterbalance the influence of the United States. In 1995, the two blocs signed the Interregional Cooperation Framework Agreement, which defined political, institutional and economic bases, as well as mechanisms for dialogue, technical cooperation and investment incentives. This was the first formal step that would give rise to decades of negotiations. Trade negotiations officially began in 1999, organized on three fronts: political dialogue, cooperation and free trade. From the beginning, impasses arose, especially around European agricultural subsidies and the opening of the Mercosur industrial sector. In 2004, negotiations reached a critical moment. Mercosur criticized the limited access to the European agricultural market, while the EU highlighted resistance from South American countries to the opening of their industries. Between 2004 and 2010, the process was practically paralyzed, due to internal differences, protectionist policies in Europe and changes in the political scenario in South America. In 2016, the dialogue was resumed with more intensity. European interest in trade agreements and transformations in global trade gave new impetus to negotiations. At this stage, chapters on tariffs, services, public purchases, rules of origin and intellectual property were defined. It was only in 2019 that Mercosur and the European Union announced the technical conclusion of the political agreement. The text provided for the gradual elimination of tariffs on around 90% of bilateral trade and common rules for services and public purchases. However, environmental criticism and political resistance in some European countries prevented ratification. Between 2020 and 2022, the EU started to demand more stringent environmental commitments, related to combating deforestation and implementing the Paris Agreement. In 2023, an additional environmental instrument was presented. Mercosur accepted part of the proposals, but criticized the provision for unilateral sanctions. The blocks consolidated the final text in 2024, after legal review and political articulation. In 2025, however, approval faced resistance from European countries with strong agricultural sectors, such as France, Poland and Ireland. Finally, in 2026, the European Union provisionally approved the agreement, paving the way for its formal signature and the creation of the largest free trade area in the world. See the details of the agreement approved this Friday EU approves agreement with Mercosur and forms the largest free trade zone in the world See below the big numbers of the agreement See which countries are involved in the EU-Mercosur Agreement. Arte/g1 INFOGRAPHIC – Who wins and who loses with the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur Arte/g1 INFOGRAPHIC – Next steps for the agreement between the European Union and Mercosur Arte/g1

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