Metsola on an official visit to France: negotiations on the EU-Mercosur agreement at the heart of discussions

Roberta Metsola, re-elected last July for a second term at the head of the European Parliament, made an official visit to France on Thursday 21st November, 2024.

Metsola met Prime Minister Michel Barnier, Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, Gérard Larcher, President of the French Senate, and Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

The President of the European Parliament also took part in the 6th Trilateral Business Forum, hosted by MEDEF, bringing together French, German (BDI) and Italian (Confindustria) employers. The MEDEF organized this conference, which was also attended by Michel Barnier and the three Ministers of the Economy (French, Italian and German), to “call on Europe to regain competitiveness”.

Roberta Metsola was in Paris in particular to push forward discussions on the free-trade agreement with Latin America, to which France is opposed. France, opposed to the draft text, is trying to convince other European Union countries to reach a blocking minority to oppose its adoption. Roberta Metsola considers it “crucial to take the time to respond” to the concerns of French farmers and to continue negotiations. The French Parliament votes on the issue on Tuesday November 26.

Michel Barnier, Thursday November 21
“Dear Roberta, thank you for our warm exchanges. The international situation demands that we rise to the occasion. I’m delighted to see our convergence on the economy, competitiveness and immigration.

We need a strong Europe and a European Parliament fully at work in Strasbourg to provide answers to these challenges.”