Parliament requests CJEU opinion on Treaty compatibility of EU‑Mercosur agreements
EP Position
The Parliament seeks an opinion from the Court of Justice on whether the proposed Partnership Agreement and Interim Trade Agreement with Mercosur comply with the Treaties, stating that splitting the deal may be incompatible with Article 218 TFEU and could undermine the principle of conferral, institutional balance and national parliaments’ role. It also raises concerns about democratic accountability and the process followed.
Key Trade Point
The resolution highlights a new rebalancing mechanism in the ITA that could allow compensation for economic impacts of non‑violative measures and fears this could be used to challenge EU climate, environmental, food safety and pesticide measures; it further warns that ITA provisions weaken sanitary and phytosanitary controls and may constrain the EU precautionary principle.
What Comes Next
Parliament instructs its President to rapidly request the CJEU opinion and to forward the resolution to the Council and Commission.
Sources
Official Documents
- Wednesday, 21 January 2026 - Strasbourg Parliament adopted a resolution to seek the Court of Justice’s opinion on the compatibility of EU‑Mercosur EMPA and ITA with EU treaties and to obtain that opinion.
Latest EU trade developments
-
EU Parliament adopts tariff changes for processed poultry meat
The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading on 21 November 2012 to implement exchange-of-letters agreements with Brazil and Thailand modifying tariff concessions on processed poultry meat and to amend the EU tariff nomenclature.
Read more -
Corrigendum to EP position on firearms import, export and transit measures
The European Parliament issued a corrigendum on 30 October 2024 to its first-reading position of 23 April 2024 on a recast Regulation implementing Article 10 of the UN Firearms Protocol, covering import, export and transit measures for firearms, their essential components and ammunition.
Read more -
EU and Australia agree FTA and Security and Defence Partnership
The EU and Australia adopted a Security and Defence Partnership, concluded negotiations for a free trade agreement, and agreed to launch formal negotiations for Australia’s association to Horizon Europe.
Read more
Similar policy actions
-
MEPs back lowering most tariffs on US industrial and agricultural goods
MEPs in the International Trade Committee adopted their position on two legislative proposals to eliminate most tariffs on US industrial and agricultural goods, by 29 votes in favour, 9 against and 1 abstention.
Read more -
MEPs call for new EU measures to strengthen livestock farming
The European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee adopted a non-binding set of proposals by 40 votes to 8 to boost productivity, sustainability and competitiveness in the EU livestock sector and now seeks a full parliamentary vote.
Read more -
This week in the International Trade Committee
The International Trade Committee meets on 18–19 March 2026 for presentations, exchanges of views and votes on Swiss relations, critical raw materials, China-related overcapacity and US tariff measures.
Read more