The Mercosur agreement has received backing from a qualified majority of EU member states, concluding over two decades of negotiations. Despite opposition from France and other countries, the deal aims to create a free-trade area benefiting European companies with access to Latin American markets. The agreement includes safeguards for EU farmers and environmental compliance measures. The vote is a significant step towards signing the deal, although final approval from the European Parliament is still needed. Teljes cikk (Euronews.com)