Farmers celebrate as the EU parliament’s vote result is announced on a referral of the Mercosur deal to the EU courts, in Strasbourg on January 21, 2026.
Roméo Boetzlé / AFP
Pressure from the agricultural sector and the backing of conservative forces have managed, for now, to halt a key deal for Brussels.
The European Parliament decided on Wednesday to refer the free trade agreement between the European Union and Mercosur to the EU’s Court of Justice (CJEU), a move that delays its eventual ratification and grants additional leeway to European farmers and livestock producers, the groups most likely to be adversely affected by the pact.
The vote, held in Strasbourg, passed by a narrow margin—334 votes in favour and 324 against—and represents a further obstacle in a process that was already complex and politically charged.
Mamy to❗️Umowa UE-Mercosur zaskarżona do TSUE❗️💪🇵🇱🚜
Dziękuję rolnikom, którzy przez ostatnie tygodnie protestowali w Polsce, Brukseli i Strasburgu. Waszą presja była kluczowa! Zdecydowało zaledwie 10 głosów! pic.twitter.com/ZfDVN1EqFL
The adopted resolution asks the CJEU, based in Luxembourg, to assess whether the text of the agreement recently signed in Paraguay is fully compatible with EU treaties. Until the court delivers its opinion—a process that could take more than a year—the ratification procedure will be suspended, adding uncertainty to one of the most ambitious and controversial trade agreements promoted by Brussels in recent decades.
Political reactions highlighted the deep divisions surrounding the Mercosur agreement and the growing discontent of the rural world with Brussels. Hungarian Balázs Orbán accused the leadership of the EPP and Manfred Weber of prioritising their support for Ursula von der Leyen over the defence of European farmers, denouncing a trade policy that sacrifices food sovereignty and competitiveness. He reiterated that Hungary will continue to protect its agricultural sector.
In France, Marion Maréchal described the vote as a victory for farmers and warned that, although it represents only a temporary reprieve, it allows political pressure to be intensified and opens the door to a possible judicial rejection of the agreement. Meanwhile, Jordan Bardella argued that the decision obliges the Commission to abandon the provisional application of the Mercosur deal if it is to respect the will expressed by the European Parliament.
Une majorité d'eurodéputés viennent de voter à Strasbourg la saisine de la Cour de justice de l'UE pour contester le passage en force de la Commission européenne sur l'accord UE-Mercosur !
Si la démocratie n'est pas définitivement devenue un vain mot au sein des institutions…
The European Parliament’s decision follows months of growing social and political pressure, particularly from the agricultural sector. Farmers and livestock producers from several member states have repeatedly warned that the agreement would open the European market to imports from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay without requiring them to meet the same sanitary, labour and environmental standards in force within the EU. In their view, this would create unfair competition and jeopardise the viability of thousands of family-run farms.
Protests in Strasbourg, with tractors and demonstrations outside the Parliament building, provided the backdrop to the vote. Although the initiative was formally driven by a cross-party alliance that included Greens and left-wing forces, the support of conservative and patriotic parties proved decisive in securing the necessary majority. For these groups, the referral to the EU courts represents an unexpected political victory compared with just a few months ago and evidence that mobilisation by the farming sector can translate into concrete results.
The European Commission, however, has downplayed the significance of the vote. A spokesperson for the EU executive, Olof Gill, stated that “according to our analysis, the issues raised by Parliament in this motion are not justified,” and recalled that the Commission retains the option of applying the agreement provisionally if it so decides together with the member states. This possibility keeps critical MEPs on alert, as they fear Brussels may attempt to bypass the political blockage.
A ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union could force changes to substantial parts of the agreement if incompatibilities with EU law are identified, reopening negotiations with the Latin American countries. In the meantime, the outcome of the vote shows that consensus around Mercosur has fractured and that final approval of the pact is now further away than before.
For the European agricultural sector, the decision does not amount to a definitive victory, but it does provide breathing space. The time gained will allow continued pressure on EU institutions and national governments to revisit an agreement they consider unbalanced. For Brussels, by contrast, the episode confirms the growing difficulty of advancing major trade projects without solid social and political backing.
Javier Villamor is a Spanish journalist and analyst. Based in Brussels, he covers NATO and EU affairs at europeanconservative.com. Javier has over 17 years of experience in international politics, defense, and security. He also works as a consultant providing strategic insights into global affairs and geopolitical dynamics.
