EU and Mercosur "very close" to reaching an accord, says top European official

EU and Mercosur “very close” to reaching an accord, says top European official

Monday, November 13th 2017 - 08:43 UTC

Full article 5 comments

The European Union and Mercosur are close to concluding a free trade accord after decades of fitful talks, an EU official said. “We’re that close to having a new association and trade agreement between EU and Mercosur,” European Commissioner for Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness Jyrki Katainen said, holding his index finger and thumb just slightly apart. Read full article

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golfcronie
France and Ireland will veto any deal as the agriculture and livestock deal will be bad for them.
Nov 13th, 2017 - 03:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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DemonTree
So, the same EU that is apparently such a threat to British sovereignty will let Ireland veto a deal?

I think they will find a compromise.
Nov 13th, 2017 - 10:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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darragh
A hard border between the RoI and NI would be very bad indeed for Irish farmers (beef and dairy particularly), the UK doesn't want a hard border, the RoI doesn't want a hard border, the only people who want a hard border are the overpaid gravy-train riders in Brussels (and/or Strasbourg, wherever they are this week) and the only reason they want it is as a stick to beat the UK with, they don't give two dollops of cowshite for the RoI and any deal with Mercosur that allows the import of SA beef will be the nail in many farmers' coffins.

DT

The EU doesn't do compromises it only does diktats.
Nov 14th, 2017 - 02:16 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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DemonTree
@darragh
The EU don't want a hard border either, but they also don't want massive smuggling through an open border. And they have made it clear they see it as the UK's problem to solve, which isn't the most helpful attitude.

And does Ireland have a veto or not? If Ireland has a veto then the EU will have to compromise or get no deal, so which is it?

It's a snappy phrase, but it's also nonsense. The EU is all about compromise. That is exactly the reason people have a problem with it, because they want their own way 100% of the time. It isn't enough that Britain is outside the Euro, outside Schengen, gets a special rebate unlike all other countries, didn't pay any extra to bail out Greece, and wasn't even asked to take refugees. Because the UK had to compromise in some areas, it's unacceptable to Brexiters.
Nov 14th, 2017 - 06:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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:o))
Reaching ANY accord is much easier in Brazil:
https://i1.wp.com/www.humorpolitico.com.br/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/charge20151126A.jpg?w=709&ssl=1
Nov 20th, 2017 - 04:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
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