The European Parliament voted on Wednesday to ask the EU’s Court of Justice (CJEU) to carry out a legal review of the trade agreement the EU signed last Saturday with four Mercosur countries — Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The move could significantly delay or even prevent the deal from taking effect.
Lawmakers in Strasbourg backed the motion by a narrow margin: 334 in favor, 324 against and 11 abstentions. The referral asks the CJEU to determine whether the agreement can be applied before it is fully ratified by all member states and whether any of its provisions would limit the EU’s ability to set environmental or consumer health rules. Such CJEU reviews typically take around two years.
The accord, completed after roughly 25 years of negotiations, still needs formal approval by the European Parliament and ratification by individual EU countries to enter into force. Supporters say it would expand market access and strengthen global ties; critics, led by farmers and agricultural representatives, fear a surge in imports of cheaper beef, sugar and poultry that could undercut domestic producers.
Farmers across Europe — notably in France and Belgium — staged large, disruptive protests in recent months and again during the Strasbourg vote. Demonstrations included tractor blockades on highways and clashes with police; authorities used tear gas to disperse protesters outside the parliament earlier in the week.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz criticized the parliamentary decision on social media as “regrettable,” saying it misreads the geopolitical context and calling for the deal’s provisional implementation because, he added, the agreement is legal and should not be delayed further.
By contrast, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot welcomed the outcome, saying France must sometimes say no to defend its agriculture and food sovereignty.
The European Commission, whose president Ursula von der Leyen made the deal a priority and shepherded it through a delayed leaders’ discussion on January 9, said it “strongly regrets” the vote. Von der Leyen has argued broader trading partnerships increase the EU’s independence. The agreement is supported by South American cattle producers and European industrial interests but has faced fierce opposition from Europe’s farming sector, which has targeted von der Leyen in protests.
Bernd Lange, chairman of the European Parliament’s trade committee, condemned the decision as “absolutely irresponsible” and an “own goal,” saying opponents should have voted the deal down rather than seek delay through a legal review.
With the CJEU referral now requested, the timetable for final approval is uncertain, and the review process could postpone any ratification and implementation for a substantial period. Edited by: Alex Berry