Following a vote today in the European Parliament, the motion was carried to put the Mercosur trade deal before the European Court of Justice. The Mercosur trade deal will now be referred to the European Court of Justice for review. Even with the referral and pending approval, the EU could still apply the agreement; however, the European Parliament will still have the power to annul it. “This is not a vote on the Mercosur trade deal itself, but it is a decisive move that could delay ratification by up to two years and could even stop this deal entirely. MEP Billy Kelleher said the referral vote was a welcome one.

Source: Irish Examiner January 21, 2026 15:00 UTC