EU countries approve a long stalled trade agreement with Mercosur

European Union (EU) countries on Friday agreed to a massive but controversial trade deal with the South American bloc MERCOSUR, diplomats said.

This gave Brussels the green light to sign the deal, which is backed by business groups but reviled by many of Europe's farmers.

A majority of the EU's 27 ambassadors at a meeting in Brussels voted in favour of the pact despite opposition from France, Ireland and other countries concerned about the impact on the agricultural sector, several European diplomats told AFP.