The European Commission proposes Mercosur and Mexico agreements for adoption

The European Commission has put forward its proposals to the Council for the signature and conclusion of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the EU-Mexico Modernised Global Agreement (MGA).

The EMPA will put an end to unfair competition by Mercosur products that imitate authentic EU products by protecting 344 EU Geographical Indications.

The MGA will expand protection from imitation to 568 iconic traditional high-quality European food and drink products (Geographical Indications).

The EMPA and the MGA require separate approval by the European Parliament and Member States before they can each enter into force. The Commission proposals for conclusion and signature include two parallel legal instruments for each agreement:

1. The EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the EU-Mexico Modernised Global Agreement (MGA), subject to separate ratification by all Member States; and
2. Two Interim Trade Agreements (iTA), one for Mercosur and one for Mexico, covering only those parts of the EMPA and MGA that are of exclusive EU competence, to be adopted through the EU-only ratification process – that is, involving the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. The iTAs will expire when the EMPA and the MGA enter into force.