In a close vote, the European Parliament plenary decided to refer the text of the association agreement to the European Court of Justice to verify its compatibility with EU treaties, postponing its final approval.
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The plenary session narrowly approved the legal review of the trade agreement, making the next steps conditional on the Court of Justice's assessment.
El Parlamento Europeo has decided today to formally request to Tribunal de Justicia de la UE (TJUE) that assesses whether the trade agreement reached with Mercosur respects the existing treaties of the UEThis decision, adopted in plenary session, implies a technical pause in the ratification process while awaiting judicial validation on the legal basis of the text.
Voting results and parliamentary division
The approved resolution reflects a clear division in the chamber. 334 votes in favorWith 324 votes against and 11 abstentions, MEPs have approved the request for a legal opinion on the agreement. It is worth noting that a second resolution, which pursued the same objective of a legal assessment, was rejected with 225 votes in favor and 402 against.
This parliamentary maneuver highlights the political sensitivity surrounding the treaty with the South American bloc, demanding a absolute legal certainty before proceeding to any phase of implementation.
Breakdown of the vote in the European Parliament
| Litigation, Arbitration | votes in favor | Votes Against | Abstentions | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Request for legal opinion (Approved) | 334 | 324 | 11 | Approved |
| Second proposed resolution | 225 | 402 | 13 | Rejected |
Roadmap: Evaluation of the EMPA and the iTA
Following this vote, the focus shifts to the court headquarters in Luxembourg. The legal basis of partnership agreement UE-Mercosur (known by its English acronym, EMPA) And provisional trade agreement (iTA) will be subject to a thorough evaluation by the Court.
El Parlamento Europeo has confirmed that it will continue examining the texts while awaiting the opinion of the Tribunal de Justicia de la UEThe approval process is therefore subject to the judges' ruling: only after receiving the opinion will the European Parliament decide whether or not to grant its final approval to the strategic agreement with the Latin American bloc.
Key points and frequently asked questions about the EU-Mercosur agreement
- What has the European Parliament decided regarding Mercosur?
It has approved requesting a legal opinion from TJUE to verify whether the agreement respects the treaties of the UE. - What are the immediate consequences of this vote?
The ratification process is temporarily halted pending the Court's legal assessment of the EMPA and the iTA. - Was the decision of the MEPs unanimous?
No, the vote was very close, with 334 votes in favor versus 324 against, which demonstrates the division of opinions regarding the treaty.
