Ane Barcos
The European Parliament approved a resolution on Wednesday, with 334 votes in favor, 324 against, and 11 abstentions, requesting a legal opinion from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) on the agreement with Mercosur, officially signed by the European Union on January 17.
Following the approval by MEPs, the Court of Justice of the European Union will review the legal basis of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement (APEM) and the Interim Trade Agreement (ATI). Parliament will not be able to vote on the agreement until the court has issued its opinion, which could take more than a year.
The European People’s Party warned that referring the agreement to the CJEU could cause unnecessary delays at a time when Europe needs clarity and direction. According to the majority group in the European Parliament, “Europe cannot afford paralysis or prolonged uncertainty in the current geopolitical situation.”
In this context, the European People’s Party (EPP) called for the provisional application of the agreement, arguing that this could offer greater predictability and business opportunities in South America for European companies and citizens.
For its part, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats regretted that, due to Wednesday’s vote, Parliament cannot begin the democratic scrutiny process. The group argued that the creation of the world’s largest trading bloc provides a solid foundation for a rules-based multilateral order, as well as being a significant economic benefit for both the EU and the Mercosur countries.
The leader of Patriots for Europe, Jordan Bardella, stated that “if democracy has not definitively become an empty word within European institutions, Ursula von der Leyen has no option but to listen to the voice of the people’s representatives and immediately abandon the provisional application of the Mercosur agreement.” The Left party hailed the vote as a “victory,” arguing that the treaty is detrimental to agriculture, the climate, and health. According to the group, “it’s a major victory for farmers.”
