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Hello Friday! While you start your weekend, Brussels is sweating over a deadline that has been 25 years in the making.
Next Tuesday, the European Parliament votes on “safeguards” — basically, to ensure no disruption of our market and to keep the unfair competition in check.
If that passes, it clears the path.
Then, on Saturday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio fly to Brazil to sign the deal.
Even if signed, the European Parliament must ratify it.
With the hard right and far left against it, the deal could still be killed next year.
Diplomats warn that if this flops, Europe loses a strategic partner, especially as relations with the US are falling apart.
Speaking of the US, our favourite commentators have recently claimed that Brussels is just an “unelected bureaucracy”.
Well, if this deal dies next year, it will be because the Parliament showed its teeth.
So, dear US friends: please leave calling European lawmakers “weak” to us. That is our job. After all, we, the people, are the ones who elect them.
Watch the Euronews video in the player above for the full story.