US EditionEU lawmakers vote to block Mercosur trade agreement over legal concerns
The referral delays ratification amid concerns over environmental and health standards, with EU exports to Mercosur expected to rise 39%, according to EU estimates.
- On Jan 21, 2026 the European Parliament voted to refer the EU-Mercosur trade agreement to the EU Court of Justice, suspending parliamentary approval by 334 to 324 with 11 abstentions.
- Opponents including France, Ireland, and Poland said farmers and environmental campaigners fear cheaper imports, deforestation, and lower food standards, prompting the legal challenge.
- Nearly 1,000 tractors and about 5,000 farmers protested outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, celebrating after the referral passed, as slogans like 'Save your farmers' appeared .
- The referral immediately suspends the Parliament's approval and sends the pact to the Court, which typically takes around two years to issue an opinion, while the European Commission could still apply the agreement provisionally despite risks of institutional strain and Mercosur partners abandoning the deal.
- The pact would cover over 700 million people and eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of bilateral trade, while the EU and Mercosur combined account for 30% of global GDP.
374 Articles
374 Articles
Europe’s Mercosur Trade Deal Faces EU Court Review, Testing Open-Trade Politics
Key Points A 334–324 European Parliament vote sent the EU–Mercosur pact to the EU Court, freezing ratification. The deal would phase out over 90% of tariffs, but farm backlash and treaty design now drive the debate. A court objection could force redesign or renegotiation, turning a signature moment into long uncertainty. The European Parliament voted […]
The EU Parliament is calling on the ECJ because of the fiercely criticised Mercosur agreement and the cunglei, in order to push it through in contempt of the parliaments. Meanwhile, the fourth vote of distrust against Ursula by the Leyens EU Commission has failed: In order to secure this result, critical MEPs of the European People's Party have been threatened with sanctions in the event of an unpopular vote. And by the way, the next harmful tra…
The European Parliament voted by a small majority to refer the EU-South American Mercosur trade agreement signed on the weekend to the European Court of Justice.
Roundup: EU-Mercosur trade deal faces delay as EU lawmakers send it for judicial review
BRUSSELS, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The European Parliament on Wednesday voted to refer the EU-Mercosur trade agreement to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for legal review, a move that could delay ratification and add uncertainty to the deal's implementation.
The Foreign Minister of Uruguay minimized the European Parliament's decision to refer the trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur to the EU Court of Justice
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