Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has urged French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to back the long-pending Mercosur–European Union trade agreement. Speaking at Brazil’s Social Participation Council, Lula said the deal would benefit over 700 million people and represent a combined GDP of $22 trillion. He addressed concerns from France over agricultural competition, stressing that Brazilian and French farm sectors do not directly compete and that Brazil has already made major concessions. Lula also called on Italy to play a decisive role in finalising the landmark agreement, calling it vital for South America–Europe cooperation and global integration.