Meloni: Signing of EU-Mercosur agreement "premature"

Italy has turned against a rapid one Conclusion of the EU trade agreement with the South American Mercosur states.

“It would be premature to sign the agreement in the coming days,” said the head of government Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday. Germany is pushing for the agreement, but without Italy’s consent in the Council of EU states, the necessary majority is likely to be missing.

In addition to France and Poland, Italy had also threatened to say no. Observers have so far assumed that Meloni could react to pressure from Italian industry and agree. Austrian representatives are bound to a veto at the EU level by a valid parliamentary resolution from 2019. Also Chancellor Christian Stocker (ÖVP) had always referred to this. Austria is likely to vote against or abstain from the vote.