The European Parliament voted on Wednesday to refer the EU-Mercosur trade deal to the Court of Justice to check its legality, temporarily halting its implementation. Thousands of farmers are protesting in Strasbourg against the agreement, with a police officer seriously injured in clashes. France welcomes the vote as aligned with its opposition to the treaty.
Background on the Mercosur Agreement
The trade deal between the European Union and Mercosur—comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—was signed on Saturday in Paraguay. It aims to increase EU exports of cars, machinery, wines, and spirits to Latin America, while easing imports into Europe of South American beef, poultry, sugar, rice, honey, and soy. Critics, especially farmers, fear unfair competition from cheaper products that may not meet EU standards due to insufficient controls.
Protests in Strasbourg
On Tuesday, around 5,500 farmers from France, Italy, Belgium, and Poland gathered at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, some arriving by tractor. Tensions escalated in the afternoon as protesters threw flares, bottles, and fruit at police. Riot officers responded with tear gas grenades. During the clashes, a police officer was seriously injured in the eye. "Today in Strasbourg, a CRS police officer (…) was very seriously injured in the eye. I am thinking of him this evening," said Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez on X. "The freedom to demonstrate and express opinions cannot take place in violence," he added. The Alliance police union shared images of a CRS officer evacuated after being "violently targeted" during the farm mobilization.
Farmers remained camped out on Wednesday, the day of the parliamentary vote.
The European Parliament Vote
On Wednesday, MEPs approved referring the matter to the EU Court of Justice with 334 votes in favor, 324 against, and 11 abstentions. This move theoretically halts the agreement's entry into force for several months, potentially delaying full ratification by up to 18 months. The European Commission could still apply it provisionally. The vote sparked cheers from hundreds of farmers outside the Parliament. "We can be proud (…). We're exhausted, it's been months and months, years on this issue," said Quentin Le Guillous, general secretary of Young Farmers.
French Reactions
In France, where farmers have mobilized for weeks against the deal, the vote is welcomed. "The European Parliament is in line with France's position," stated Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on X. "France takes responsibility to say no when necessary, and history often proves it right. The fight continues to protect our agriculture and ensure food sovereignty." Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called it an "important" vote that must be respected. In response to the farmers' anger, the government announced an emergency agricultural bill to be reviewed before summer.
