US EditionEU lawmakers vote to block Mercosur trade agreement over legal concerns
The referral suspends EU Parliament approval, delaying the deal by up to two years amid legal concerns over environmental policies and potential harm to farmers, say 144 lawmakers.
- 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.
130 Articles
130 Articles
European Parliament votes to delay Mercosur deal in court
The European Parliament voted on Wednesday for a legal check of the EU's trade deal with four members of the Latin American Mercosur bloc, a move that could severely delay or even derail the deal. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz took to social media soon after news of the vote, calling the result "regrettable" and saying it "misjudges the geopolitical situation." The EU signed the deal with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay on Saturday, a…
With more than 700 million consumers, the treaty must create the world’s largest free trade zone, between the 27 EU Member States and Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, and eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of bilateral trade.
It is the next hurdle for the trade agreement with the South American Mercosur states: the European Parliament has called for a review of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in which the opponents of the agreement won a vote in Strasbourg on Wednesday with a small majority of 334 votes to 324. The review of the ECJ is expected to delay the ratification of the agreement by months. Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) and business representatives deman…
The European Court of Justice is to review the EU's free trade agreement with the Mercosur countries. The European Parliament in Strasbourg decided by a small majority to obtain an opinion on whether the document is compatible with EU law. As a consequence, the ratification process could be delayed by months or even years.
The European Parliament is taking the Mercosur agreement to the EU Court of Justice. The decision is a major success for Hungarian farmers.
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