A bond between regions: Signing ceremony of the EU-Mercosur Agreement

The EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement was signed on 17 January 2026 in Asunción, Paraguay by EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maroš Šefčovič in attendance of Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and heads of state and ministers of the Mercosur Countries. In her speech at the ceremony, President Ursula von der Leyen stressed the importance of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement in the currently uncertain times. The Agreement marks the creation of the largest free trade zone between two regions, involving 700 million people, with a focus on mutual economic benefits including the elimination of tariffs and increased business opportunities, expected to significantly boost trade and investment. It also underscores shared ambitions for sustainability, with legally binding commitments towards climate neutrality by 2050 and plans for integrating trade into the green transition. Finally, von der Leyen emphasized the geopolitical significance of the agreement, reinforcing a long-term partnership grounded in shared values, political dialogue, and cooperation on global issues like sustainability, equality, and security. More information about the Agreement with Mercosur: https://link.europa.eu/fKkjMD The whole ceremony is available to watch on our AV Portal: https://link.europa.eu/FYBbhP Chapters 00:00 Introduction President Ursula von der Leyen 00:15 Welcome Greetings 00:37 Appreciation of Mercosur countries 02:47 New era of trade 04:31 Economic benefits 05:48 Sustainable development 06:44 Geopolitical importance 07:32 Shared cultures 09:23 Signing ceremony Disclaimer: Comments considered in breach of our social media moderation policy may be removed. You can take a look at it here: https://europa.eu/!q4KMP8 Follow us on: -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/ -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/ -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission Check our website: https://commission.europa.eu/