European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Mercosur deal will come into force. Photograph: JOHN THYS / AFP via Getty ImagesThe European Commission will allow the EU’s trade deal with the Mercosur bloc of South American countries to come into force, despite the fact MEPs have not voted to ratify the agreement. In a move that immediately drew backlash from farmers and other opponents, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said the EU executive will provisionally allow the trade agreement take effect. A majority of MEPs voted last month to refer the trade agreement to the European Court of Justice (ECJ), to rule on whether it complies with EU treaties. The head of the EU’s powerful executive arm described the Mercosur deal as “one of the most consequential trade agreements of the first half of this century”.

Source: The Irish Times February 27, 2026 23:12 UTC