BRUSSELS — In a dramatic legislative move, the European Parliament has suspended ratification of the landmark EU-Mercosur trade agreement, demanding judicial review from Europe’s highest court regarding its treaty compliance. Lawmakers in Strasbourg narrowly passed the resolution with 334 votes in favor versus 324 against, effectively postponing final approval until the European Court of Justice delivers its legal assessment—a process expected to span several months.
This decision creates significant uncertainty for the comprehensive trade pact signed just days ago following 25 years of negotiations. The agreement, championed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as a strategic response to global protectionism, aimed to establish one of the world’s largest free trade zones covering over 700 million consumers. It proposed eliminating over 90% of tariffs between the economic blocs, benefiting South American agricultural exports and European industrial goods alike.
The parliamentary vote revealed deep divisions within the EU, with France emerging as a leading opponent. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed the delay, asserting that Parliament had aligned with France’s long-standing position demanding stronger protections for European farmers. Meanwhile, the European Commission expressed strong regret over the decision, while Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned it as “geopolitically misguided” and urged immediate provisional application of the agreement.
Trade Committee Chair Bernd Lange criticized the move as “absolutely irresponsible” and damaging to European economic interests. Despite the EU’s internal divisions, ratification appears certain within Mercosur nations (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay), where the pact enjoys broad support. The development comes ahead of an emergency EU summit focused on transatlantic relations, where trade strategies are expected to dominate discussions.