BRUSSELS – Italy has expressed reservations about endorsing a significant trade agreement between the European Union and South American nations, adding uncertainty to the pact as European leaders convene in Brussels amidst protests from farmers angered by the proposed deal.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addressed parliament on Wednesday, indicating that Italy’s support for the trade agreement with the five Mercosur countries—Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Bolivia—hinges on substantial revisions to the current terms.

Meloni emphasized that endorsing the agreement at this juncture would be “premature.” She insisted on implementing protective measures for Italian agriculture before considering the deal’s approval.

“This doesn’t imply that Italy seeks to block or oppose the agreement,” Meloni stated, “but rather that we aim to endorse it only when it provides sufficient guarantees for our agricultural sector.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remains eager to finalize the agreement but requires the consent of at least two-thirds of EU member states. Italy’s stance potentially aids France in rallying enough support to prevent von der Leyen from signing the pact.

In response to rising far-right sentiment driven by opposition to the deal, France has called for mechanisms to prevent major economic disruptions within the EU, stricter regulations in Mercosur countries, such as limits on pesticide usage, and enhanced inspections of imports at EU borders.

Despite the looming delay, which analysts say could lead to a sinking of the pact, von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa are still scheduled to sign the deal in Brazil on Saturday.

The trade deal has been under negotiation for 25 years. If ratified, it would cover a market of 780 million people and a quarter of the globe’s gross domestic product.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told lawmakers in Berlin that he was still advocating for von der Leyen and Costa to sign the deal.

“The European Union’s ability to act can also be measured by whether, after 26 years of negotiations, we are finally in a position to bring this trade agreement to a conclusion, and so also get the negotiated trade agreements with Mexico and Indonesia on the road quickly,” he said.

He said that those “moaning about details of big trade agreements that we as Europeans want to conclude with major economic areas in the world … still haven’t really understood the priorities we must now set.”

The summit in Brussels will largely focus on financing Ukraine in its war against Russia’s invasion, but the EU-Mercosur deal is a priority for some of the 27 EU leaders.

Farmers from Greece to Poland have said they will descend on Brussels, some on tractors, to protest the deal, which they fear will undercut their livelihoods.

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Associated Press writers Colleen Barry in Rome and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed to this report.