The European Union's decision to fast-track the free trade agreement with South American bloc Mercosur was "a bad surprise," French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday (February 27) after Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen said the EU will provisionally apply the deal.

"For France, it's a surprise, a bad surprise, and for the European Parliament, it's disrespectful," Macron told reporters during a joint press conference with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob in Paris.

The EU normally waits for approval of its free trade agreements by EU governments and the European Parliament. But EU lawmakers, led by French deputies, voted last month to challenge the agreement in the bloc's top court, potentially delaying its full implementation by two years.

In a vote in January, 21 EU countries supported the agreement, while Austria, France, Hungary, Ireland and Poland voted against and Belgium abstained.

Golob also said he was happy the Commission had said on Thursday (February 26) member states may use an existing EU social fund to terminate pregnancies free of charge for women visiting from EU nations that restrict access to safe abortions, a significant policy clarification amid divisive debates on abortion rights.

“I am proud that this was achieved despite some opposition from conservative forces in both the parliament and the commission,” he said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

France's Macron slams EU fast-tracking Mercosur deal as 'bad surprise'

VIDEO SHOWS: FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON SAYING EU FAST-TRACKING MERCOSUR DEAL WAS A 'BAD SURPRISE', SLOVENIAN PRIME MINISTER ROBERT GOLOB SAYING HE IS HAPPY EU COMMISSION HAS SAID EU FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR ABORTION ACCESS ACROSS THE BLOC

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (FEBRUARY 27, 2026) (AGENCY POOL - Access all)

1. FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON AND SLOVENIAN PRIME MINISTER ROBERT GOLOB ARRIVING FOR PRESS CONFERENCE

2. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRESIDENT, EMMANUEL MACRON, SAYING:

“It is a great responsibility towards farmers who have expressed their concerns and for whom Europeans have not yet provided the necessary visibility. We are at the beginning of negotiations on the future common agricultural policy. We are not giving them clarity on what depends on us. We are adding uncertainty to issues on which they have already expressed uncertainty. It is also a heavy responsibility towards European citizens and their representatives, who have not been given the respect they deserve. In essence, for France, this is a surprise, and an unpleasant one at that. And for the European Parliament, it is disrespectful. In any case, as far as we are concerned, we will be vigilant and we will ensure that what we have negotiated so hard over the last few months is respected.”

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Slovenian) SLOVENIAN PRIME MINISTER, ROBERT GOLOB, SAYING:

“I myself was very pleasantly, I won't say, surprised, but I still had a very nice day. After the European Commission approved the proposal of 'My Voice My Choice' from Slovenia, that all European women, wherever they live in Europe, be granted the right to an accessible and safe abortion. This is a right that our countries have written down, in our constitution and in yours. While in many places in Europe, unfortunately, this is not even close to self-evident, but from yesterday onwards, it became accessible. I am proud that this was achieved despite some opposition from conservative forces in both the Parliament and the Commission.”

4. MACRON AND GOLOB SHAKING HANDS AND LEAVING