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European Commission Dismisses European Parliament's Questions on Mercosur Deal

Published January 21, 2026, 16:23

The European Commission has dismissed as unfounded the questions raised by the European Parliament in a resolution seeking an opinion from the EU Court of Justice regarding the compatibility of the EMPA and ITA agreements with the EU Treaties. The Commission argues that the questions have already been extensively addressed during negotiations and in previous agreements. The Commission's trade spokesperson, Oluf Gill, emphasized that the Parliament's decision comes at a critical time, as European producers and exporters urgently need access to new markets. The Commission wants to promote the diversification agenda and reaffirm the EU's role as a reliable trading partner. The Commission assured that the legal architecture of the agreements is fully compatible with the EU Treaties, that full transparency and respect for the allocation of powers between institutions were maintained, and that national parliaments will have their institutional role. Furthermore, the Commission clarified that the non-violation dispute settlement mechanism cannot be used by Mercosur countries to pressure the EU to change legislation, and that the agreements do not undermine the precautionary principle or the EU's high health and phytosanitary standards. Checks on agricultural imports from Mercosur will not be reduced.