Good morning from Brussels.

The long-discussed trade deal between the EU and the Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay), which has been under negotiation since 1999, has again come into the spotlight.

A Parliamentary source told Euractiv’s Angrelo di Mambro that in a closed-door briefing on Monday, the Commission informed trade MEPs that Mercosur’s Montevideo summit on 5-6 December had been floated as a potential date to close the agreement as progress in talks has been made.

EU farmers’ organisations oppose the deal, saying the application of “double standards” harms their competitiveness. An example is insecticides such as neonicotinoids, which are allowed for Brazilians but not for EU farmers. 

Farmers are taking to the streets of Brussels today to protest against the deal, and France’s Prime Minister Michel Barnier will also visit the European Union’s capital to convince EU officials to withdraw from it. 

But other countries such as Germany, Spain and Portugal back the deal. 

The debate heats up amid Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the widely expected US trade measures that could impact the EU. 

But it also returns to the agenda amid increasing calls for Europe to improve its competitiveness worldwide, based on Mario Draghi’s report.

On Tuesday, EU's incoming top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, gave the issue a geopolitical element: “If we don’t do a trade agreement with them [Latin America], then this void will be filled by China.”

Ursula von der Leyen’s top team of executive vice presidents were questioned on Tuesday by EU lawmakers, but it seems politics and not only policies will determine their future.

Parliamentary sources told Euractiv that a coalition from the European Parliament's pro-European majority has delayed the confirmation meetings that were supposed to conclude this week. 

Timewise, it’s not clear yet when things will progress as the EPP – the largest EU group – disagrees with the EU socialists and liberal Renew.

Spain’s socialist Teresa Ribera faced strong reactions at her hearing, while the EPP told Euractiv it needs more time to assess the nomination of French commissioner-designate and Macron’s ally Stéphane Séjourné. 

Meanwhile, EU socialists are having second thoughts regarding Italy’s Raffaele Fitto, who the EPP strongly backs.

BERLIN

Germany's conservative CDU/CSU, led by Friedrich Merz, is expected to win the snap election on 23 February according to the latest polls but remains at odds on energy and climate policy with its most likely coalition partner: Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD). Read more.

ROME

Billionaire businessman Elon Musk, who will have a key role in the US administration under Donald Trump - has joined the ongoing dispute between the Italian government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the country’s judiciary over the recent migrant transfer policy with Albania. Read more.

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MADRID

Spain will propose redirecting unused EU recovery funds to flood-hit Valencia. The Spanish government will propose to the European Commission to amend the post-COVID reconstruction plan to redirect unused EU funds to the 'reconstruction and revitalisation' of the areas most affected by the recent torrential rains and floods. Read more.

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LISBON

Portuguese FM warns of EU’s ‘cultural tendency’ to overregulate. Portuguese Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel warned on Tuesday of the downside of Europe's "cultural tendency" to "over-regulate" and called for a better "balance" between technological development and the defence of democracy and human rights. Read more.

STOCKHOLM

Sweden’s social services likely to soon have more powers to tackle gang recruitment. The Swedish government has proposed to give social services a greater role in preventing young people from joining criminal gangs by changing the confidentiality rules between public services. Read more.

PRAGUE

New polls show growing support for Czechia's populist Motorists party. The right-wing populist party Motorists for Themselves, part of the Patriots for Europe group, has made significant gains, according to new polling data published by the Median agency. Read more.

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WARSAW

Polish parliament debates making Christmas Eve a public holiday. Polish lawmakers are reviewing a bill that would make Christmas Eve an official public holiday, with supporters hoping the new law could come into force as early as 2024. Read more.

SOFIA

Bulgarian president supports net zero carbon target in Baku. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev spoke about the threat of climate change at the COP29 climate summit in Baku on Tuesday, where he backed a net zero target, admitting that just 10 years ago, he would have thought the goal was incompatible with competitiveness. Read more.

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BUCHAREST

Romanian election candidates use fake accounts to smear opponents. Fake social media accounts are being used in Romania's ongoing presidential and parliamentary election campaigns to artificially boost the popularity of certain candidates and promote content targeting their opponents, according to an analysis by the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI). Read more.

• EU: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chairs College of Commissioners meeting; Hosts Prime Minister of France Michel Barnier;
• Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders holds videoconference with Chair of US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Rohit Chopra;
• Parliament’s plenary session debates relations with US in light of presidential elections’ outcome, UN Climate Change Conference 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan (COP29), and more.

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[Edited by Sarantis Michalopoulos, Daniel Eck, Alice Taylor-Braçe]