EU forced to delay hated new plans after farmers stage extraordinary protest in Brussels

WATCH: Farmers clash with police during protests in Brussels

| GUIDO FAWKES

By Marcus Donaldson

Published: 20/12/2025

– 09:54

ShareLike71Comments

European farmers fear the scheme is threatening their livelihoods

The European Union has delayed the signing of a divisive trade agreement with South American nations amid intense farmers’ protests in Brussels.

Both France and Italy have requested additional time to win over their agricultural sectors, seeing the bloc postpone the inking of the deal until the new year.

This postponement has once again scuppered the EU’s plans to finalise the long-stalled Mercosur free trade accord.

The agreement, which has been under negotiation for a quarter of a century, would establish the world’s largest free-trade zone encompassing between 700 and 780 million people.

TRENDING

Stories
Videos
Your Say

1Motorhome and campervan drivers could face new driving licence changes following landmark petition

2HMRC figures show £41.8billion surge in tax receipts after Rachel Reeves’s Budget

3Rachel Reeves’s car taxes could violate human rights as millions face daily road charges – ‘Cross…

4Archaeologists make sickening discovery in sewage pits below Hadrian’s Wall

5Migrants clash with French police as hundreds cross Channel for second consecutive weekend

Under its terms, Mercosur nations Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay would reduce tariffs on European exports, whilst the EU would expand food import quotas and lower duties.

However, farmers across the continent have argued that increased imports of beef, chicken and cereals from the South American market would threaten their livelihoods.

To protest the planned sealing of the agreement, 10,000 farmers from across all 27 EU member states descended on Brussels.

More than 1,000 tractors rolled through the streets of the Belgian capital as part of the mostly peaceful demonstrations that occasionally spilt over into chaotic scenes.

Featured Comment

TM

Trevor Macdonald

Our farmers need to take a leaf out of their european cousins book . Bring this lying corrupt government down . Protest by all means but simply stop all food production and blockde the ports to stop import replacements. British public will support their farmers and we are happy to go without rid the UK of liars Starmer, Reeyes and Lammy

Read More

Read All 71 Comments

The EU has delayed a divisive trade deal after fiery protests from farmers in Brussels

| GETTY

Protesters were seen hurling potatoes and eggs at police while blocking roads and igniting fireworks.

Some also brought down the Christmas tree standing outside the European Parliament, replacing it with a blazing pile of tyres and debris.

Police deployed water cannons and tear gas to manage the crowds, with black smoke engulfing surrounding streets.

Windows at the parliament building were smashed by troublemakers on the fringes of the demonstration, prompting officials to email staff, warning them to keep away from the windows.

Don’t Miss

Four men found guilty after 16-year-old girl raped and sexually exploited in ‘horrific ordeal’

Scientists left stunned after discovering giant ‘lemon-shaped’ planet that ‘defies explanation’

US seizes SECOND oil tanker off Venezuela as tensions rise between Donald Trump and Nicolas Maduro

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

Jewish menorah in London has lightbulbs smashed just days after Bondi Beach terror attack
Locals ‘devastated’ after massive solar farm given go-ahead despite nearly 400 objections
English Channel ‘could become next frontier of Ukraine war’ after Russian ship blown up

As many as 10,000 farmers from across all 27 EU member states protested the plans outside the European Parliment

| GETTY

In the shadow of what some called the century’s largest mobilisation of European farmers, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen announced on X: “We have reached out to our Mercosur partners and agreed to postpone slightly the signature.”

A Commission spokesman also confirmed: “The European Commission proposed that it be postponed to early January to further discuss with countries that still need a little bit more time.”

The delay follows a telephone conversation on Thursday between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“Meloni explained that she is not against the agreement, she is simply experiencing some political embarrassment because of the Italian farmers, but that she is certain she is capable of convincing them to accept the agreement,” President Lula said.

“She asked me that if we have patience for a week, 10 days, at most a month, Italy will join the agreement,” he added.

Ms Meloni’s office stated on Thursday evening: “The Italian government is ready to sign the agreement as soon as the necessary responses are provided to farmers, which depend on the decisions of the European Commission and can be finalised quickly.”

French President Emmanuel Macron also called for a delay, making clear upon arriving in Brussels that Paris would not back the agreement without enhanced protections for its agricultural sector.

“I want to tell our farmers, who have been making France’s position clear all along: we consider that we are not there yet, and the deal cannot be signed” as it stands, President Macron told reporters.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni requested a delay in the agreement

| GETTY

He pledged that France would resist any “attempt to force this through”.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took a contrasting view, pressing for rapid progress on the accord.

“If the European Union wants to remain credible in global trade policy, then decisions must be made now,” Chancellor Merz stated in Brussels on Thursday.

Germany, Spain and the Nordic countries remain strong advocates for the pact, keen to boost exports amid Chinese competition and potential American tariffs.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter