The European Parliament decided on 21 January 2026 to request the European Court of Justice to assess whether the EU-Mercosur agreement is in conformity with the EU treaties. With 334 votes in favour, 324 against and 11 abstentions, the European Parliament adopted a resolution asking for a legal opinion from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the agreement. A second resolution also demanding a legal assessment was rejected with 225 votes for, 402 against and 13 abstentions.

The legal basis of the EU-Mercosur partnership agreement (EMPA) and the interim trade agreement (iTA) will now be reviewed by the ECJ. The European Parliament will continue its examination of the texts, while awaiting the opinion of the EU Court. Only then, Parliament will be able to vote to grant consent (or not) to the Agreement.

The European Union and four Mercosur countries&nbsp;– Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay&nbsp;–&nbsp;reached a political agreement on 6 December 2024&nbsp;for a ground-breaking partnership agreement. On 3 September 2025, the European Commission adopted proposals for Council decisions on the signature and conclusion of&nbsp;two parallel legal instruments: the&nbsp;EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the interim Trade Agreement (iTA). The iTA will be repealed and replaced by the EMPA once the latter is fully ratified and enters into force.&nbsp; On 9 January 2026, the Council adopted the two decisions authorising the signature of the EMPA and the iTA.&nbsp; On 17 January 2026,&nbsp;the European Union and Mercosur signed the Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the Interim Trade Agreement (iTA).

EU - Mercosur Trade Agreement

Lex Signing Ceremony in presence of Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Press conference by Gabriel MATO (EPP, ES), rapporteur on Mercosur safeguards to protect EU agriculture

Press conference on Mercosur safeguards to protect EU agriculture.

Voting session, including vote on climate neutrality and ECB annual report

Informal meeting of the members of the European Council: Doorstep by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Voting Session on the opinion from the EU Court of Justice on the compatibility with the Treaties of the proposed EU-Mercosur Agreement

Press conference on the Bilateral safeguard clause of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement

Press conference by Gabriel MATO (EPP, ES), rapporteur and Bernd LANGE (S&D, DE), INTA Chair on the Bilateral safeguard clause of the EU-Mercosur trade agreement

Voting session

EP Plenary session - Implementation of EU-US trade deal and the prospect of wider EU trade agreements

Implementation of EU-US trade deal and the prospect of wider EU trade agreements: extracts from the debate

Implementation of EU-US trade deal and the prospect of wider EU trade agreements: closing statements by Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security and Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister for European Affairs

Plenary debate on the EU-US trade deal

Implementation of EU-US trade deal and the prospect of wider EU trade agreements: MEPs debate (part 2)

Implementation of EU-US trade deal and the prospect of wider EU trade agreements: MEPs debate (part 1)

Implementation of EU-US trade deal and the prospect of wider EU trade agreements: opening statements by Marie Bjerre, Danish Minister for European Affairs and Maroš Šefčovič, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security

State of the European Union - #SOTEU2025: statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission (part 6 - Social justice - Housing)

State of the European Union - #SOTEU2025: statement by Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission (part 3 - Gaza - Israel)

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Closing statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: MEPs debate (part 2)

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: Opening statement by Maroš ŠEFČOVIČ, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and European Commissioner for Interinstitutional Relations and Transparency

EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement: MEPs debate (part 1)

Infoclip: EU-MERCOSUR Trade relations

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