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EU-Mercosur Deal Frozen - Referred to EU Court

Published January 21, 2026, 12:16
EU-Mercosur Deal Frozen - Referred to EU Court

The European Parliament has put the trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries on hold, referring it to the EU Court to examine its legal basis. The decision was made by a narrow margin (334 votes in favor, 324 against, and 10 abstentions) after more than 25 years of negotiations. The agreement concerns a market of approximately 700 million citizens and includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Referral to the Court could delay the implementation of the agreement by up to two years, with the possibility of amendments to the text. The vote coincided with demonstrations by French and other European farmers against the agreement outside the European Parliament.