European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday that the European Union must reduce its overdependencies in order to protect its global competitiveness, stressing the strategic value of free trade agreements such as Mercosur. Speaking ahead of the European Council summit in Brussels, she framed the Mercosur debate within a broader discussion on economic resilience, vulnerabilities, and competitiveness, arguing that only a strong network of trade partnerships can strengthen the EU’s position in an increasingly fragmented global economy.
Von der Leyen described Mercosur as a potentially vast market of 700 million consumers composed of “like-minded countries” committed to free trade, calling the agreement of “enormous importance” for the EU. However, divisions among member states have sharpened. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the agreement was still premature and required stronger reciprocity guarantees to protect European farmers.
Germany and Spain remain among the strongest supporters of the deal, arguing that Mercosur could boost European exports at a time of weak growth and intensifying global competition, particularly amid rising tariff pressures from the United States under President Donald Trump. At the same time, opposition from farmers across Europe has intensified, with agricultural unions warning that the agreement could harm sectors such as beef, poultry, and sugar due to cheaper imports produced under looser standards. Thousands of farmers are expected to protest in Brussels on Thursday as EU leaders gather for the summit.