00:01A qualified majority of member states gave the green light on Friday to the trade deal with Mercosur.
00:07The vote ends more than two decades of difficult negotiations between the EU and a group of Latin American countries,
00:13Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, as well as years of internal EU division.
00:19France, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Ireland voted against, while Belgium abstained.
00:25The deal's opponents warned this agreement would expose EU farmers to unfair competition from Latin American agricultural imports.
00:33In recent months, the Commission has added concessions aimed at appeasing farmers and securing the crucial support of Italy,
00:40including early access to 45 billion euros in common agricultural policy funds from 2028
00:47and a freeze of the EU's carbon border tax on fertilizers.
00:51Friday's vote opens the way for the EU to sign the agreement, with Commission President expected to travel to Latin America soon.
00:58The EU conclusion procedure, however, also requires the consent of the European Parliament.
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