Paralizado el Acuerdo Mercosur por el Parlamento

European Parliament thrusts EU-Mercosur trade deal into uncertainty

MEPs chose to refer the free trade agreement to the Court of Justice of the European Union, effectively freezing the ratification process. The EU Commission may, however, decide to provisionally apply the agreement in the meantime.

“The concerns voiced by several agricultural sectors clearly show that some fear being sacrificed on the altar of the trade balance, brutally exposed to competition from an agro-industrial model that promises to crush them. Should agricultural products be treated in the same way as all other goods in such free trade agreements, placed on the same level as cars and machine tools? This is a burning question at a time when the European Commission is getting ready to sign another free trade agreement, this time with India.”

EU-Mercosur: request for Court of Justice opinions, and motion of censure

On Wednesday, MEPs will decide whether to seek the European Court of Justice’s opinion on the compatibility of the EU-Mercosur deals with the EU Treaties.

Following the signature of the Partnership Agreement and the Interim Trade Agreement, scheduled for Saturday 17 January in Paraguay, plenary will vote on two proposals by MEPs requesting European Court of Justice (ECJ) assessments of their legal bases.

According to EU Treaties, a member state, the European Parliament, the Council or the Commission may obtain the opinion of the Court of Justice as to whether an agreement envisaged is compatible with the Treaties. If the opinion of the Court is negative, the agreement may not enter into force unless it is amended.

Debate and vote on a motion of censure against the Commission over the Mercosur deals

On Monday, MEPs will hold a debate with one round of political group speakers on a motion of censure against the European Commission, followed by a roll call vote on Thursday. To be adopted, the motion must secure a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, representing a majority of the component members of Parliament.

According to Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, a motion of censure in respect of the Commission may be submitted to the President by one 10th of the component members of Parliament, i.e. 72 MEPs.

Votes: Wednesday 21 January (request of ECJ opinion); Thursday 22 January (motion of censure)

Procedures: Rule 117(6) of EP Rules of Procedure (request of ECJ opinion); Rule 131 (motion of censure)