Ursula von der Leyen Boosted After EU‑Mercosur Pact Approval

EU ambassadors in Brussels approved the long‑delayed EU‑Mercosur trade pact, giving a diplomatic boost to Ursula von der Leyen after member states overcame opposition led by France and criticism from Emmanuel Macron.The qualified‑majority backing followed earlier ambassadors' meetings and comes amid large farmer protests, tractor blockades and arrests reported by Laurent Nuñez, while analysts warned AI‑generated videos have distorted the public debate.The accord, still subject to EU ratification, promises tariff cuts on more than 90 percent of products, a market of over 700 million people, modest projected GDP gains and protective measures including €45 billion in immediate farming subsidies, a €1 billion emergency fund, a €6.3 billion crisis fund and an emergency import "brake".