Europe: free trade agreement with Mercosur put on hold

The European Parliament temporarily halted the EU–Mercosur agreement by sending it to the Court of Justice of the EU to review its legality, following a very close vote driven by protests from the agricultural sector.

Producers consider this decision a small victory and say that the vote by MEPs has proven them right.

Legal review of the EU–Mercosur agreement

The European Parliament has put the Mercosur agreement “in the pits” by requesting a legal opinion from the Court of Justice of the EU on its compatibility with the treaties that form the foundation of the European Union.

After the demonstrations in Strasbourg on Tuesday, January 20, the vote by MEPs proved responsive to producers’ demands.

Reaction from the agricultural sector

This represents a brief hurdle in the processing of the agreement, although the agricultural sector views it as a highly significant moral victory. That said, farming organizations grouped under Copa-Cogeca are maintaining their protest schedule.

Position of the European Commission

For its part, the Commission said it will continue working to ensure that this decision does not prevent the agreement—already signed with Mercosur authorities—from entering into force.

The result of the vote was extremely close, with 334 votes in favor of sending the text to the court, 324 against, and 11 abstentions. For now, the voting position of Spanish MEPs is unknown.