More than 100 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are pushing to delay the European Union’s trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc.
The lawmakers plan to ask the Court of Justice of the European Union to check whether the deal—which would include Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—follows European treaties. If approved, this step could slow down the European Commission’s plans to sign the agreement before Christmas 2025.
The MEPs want the court to review a new “rebalancing mechanism” in the deal which allows either side to take action if the other blocks trade benefits. They also want clarification on splitting the trade and partnership sections, and on whether the deal respects EU rules on environmental and health protections.
The effort includes members from multiple political groups, such as the European People’s Party (EPP), Social Democrats (S&D), Renew, Greens and the Left. The signatories mainly come from countries traditionally critical of the deal, including Poland, France, Belgium and Ireland.
The EP will also decide which committees handle safeguards for sensitive European agricultural products.
Taken together, the MEPs’ latest interventions add to the scrutiny and controversy that has accompanied the Mercosur Deal since its inception.
