The European Parliament voted on Wednesday in favor of referring the matter to the Court of Justice of the European Union, with a view to confirm the legality of the settlement between the EU and Mercosur. MEPs gave their settlement with 334 votes for and 324 towards. This referral to the Court theoretically blocks the entry into power of this industrial settlement for a number of months.
In the meantime, nonetheless, the European Commission has the chance to use the treaty provisionally if it needs. She mentioned Wednesday “regret” the vote of MEPs. “According to our analysis, the questions asked by Parliament in this motion are not justified”lamented a spokesperson for the European govt, Olof Gill.
The European Parliament is “consistent with the position” from France, for his half reacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs. “France is willing to say no when necessary, and often History proves it right”added Jean-Noël Barrot in a message posted on X. “The fight continues to protect our agriculture and guarantee our food sovereignty”he added, whereas French farmers are strongly mobilized towards this settlement.
Many farmers burst into pleasure after the vote. Hundreds of them gathered in Strasbourg, on board tractors, to specific their hostility to this settlement, signed on Saturday in Paraguay.
More info to come back.
https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2026/01/21/mercosur-le-parlement-europeen-saisit-la-cour-de-justice-de-l-ue-la-france-salue-un-vote-en-coherence-avec-sa-position_6663505_3234.html