European Parliament Freezes EU-Mercosur Deal - Referral to EU Court

The European Parliament has decided to refer the EU-Mercosur agreements to the European Court of Justice to assess their compatibility with EU Treaties. The proposal was narrowly approved (334 in favor, 324 against, 11 abstentions), while another related proposal was rejected. This decision calls on the President of the European Parliament to seek an opinion from the Court without delay and to inform the Council and the Commission. Despite the referral, the agreement can be applied provisionally until the Court's decision is issued. This means the process does not necessarily halt the implementation of the agreement, but raises a legal question about its constitutionality. MEP Giorgos Georgiou (AKEL, European Left) was among those who co-signed the resolution. This vote indicates concerns about the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the Mercosur agreement. The Mercosur agreement is a trade deal between the European Union and South American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). The referral to the Court is a significant step in evaluating the agreement and its potential consequences.