BRUSSELS, ‌Dec 15 (Reuters) - The ‍European ‌Commission still expects to sign ⁠the ‌Mercosur trade deal by the end of the year, ⁠a Commission spokesman said on ​Monday.

"The deal is a ‌question of ⁠utmost importance for our European Union, economically, diplomatically, ​geopolitically, but also in terms of our accountability of the global ​stage," ‍spokesman Olof ​Gill told reporters.

France on Sunday urged the European Union and Mercosur countries to postpone their ⁠planned December meeting, saying conditions are ​not yet in place for the signing of the EU-Mercosur ‌trade deal.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro, editing by Bart Meijer)