European Parliament sends Mercosur agreement to court

Brussels – The European Parliament wants the EU Court of Justice to review the legality of the major trade agreement with the Mercosur countries in Latin America.

The proposal to send the issue to the court was approved by a narrow margin: 334 votes to 324 on Wednesday. This means that the entire agreement now risks being delayed by at least several months and perhaps even years.

The European Commission does indeed have the option of allowing the agreement to enter into force provisionally, without waiting for the court process. In that case, however, it is expected to face strong criticism from the European Parliament and from the countries – including France, Hungary and Poland – that have strongly opposed the agreement.

Sweden has been one of the countries that has pushed hardest for an agreement. Several of the Swedish members are disappointed.

“In a time of geopolitical tensions, today’s vote is regrettable and sends completely the wrong signals,” writes, for example, Jörgen Warborn (the Moderate Party) in a text message to TT.

The European Commission also regrets the decision.

(21 January)