European Parliament votes to refer Mercosur trade agreement to court for legal review
European lawmakers voted to refer the Mercosur trade pact to the EU Court of Justice on Wednesday. The move introduces a possible two-year delay to the deal.
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The European Parliament voted on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, to refer the landmark trade agreement with members of the Mercosur bloc to the EU Court of Justice for a formal legal review. The decision, which passed with a narrow margin of 334 votes in favour and 324 against, including 11 abstentions, could delay the implementation of the pact by approximately two years and still requires approval before it can take effect. This parliamentary action comes just days after the EU 
EUsigned the agreement on Saturday, January 18, 2026, following twenty-five years of complex negotiations with Brazil 
BR, Argentina 
AR, Paraguay 
PY, and Uruguay 
UY.
EUsigned the agreement on Saturday, January 18, 2026, following twenty-five years of complex negotiations with Brazil BR, Argentina AR, Paraguay PY, and Uruguay UY.
