Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has confirmed her decision to proceed with provisional application of the Mercosur trade pact.
Her announcement today came despite a European Court of Justice (CJEU) review initiated by MEPs in January continues to delay full ratification.
The MEPs want the CJEU to give an opinion whether the trade pact is compatible with EU treaties.
Von der Leyen hailed the rapid progress on the landmark EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement as “good news” and confirmed the European Union will now proceed with its provisional application, despite European Parliament resistance.
Uruguay and Argentina became the first Mercosur countries to ratify the deal yesterday, following its signing in January after over 25 years of negotiations. Brazil and Paraguay are expected to ratify it soon.
Backed by a January 2026 European Council mandate, the EC will activate provisional application with ratifying Mercosur members, allowing key elements such as tariff reductions to take effect temporarily while full ratification continues.
“Provisional application is, by its nature, provisional,” von der Leyen stressed.
The EC pledged close co-operation with EU institutions, member states and stakeholders for a transparent process.
French President Emmanuel Macron reacted, calling the EC’s decision “a bad surprise”, adding “it is a great responsibility toward the farmers who have expressed their concerns” and “bad manners toward the European Parliament”.
Once the CJEU delivers its decision, the European Parliament will then proceed to vote on granting its consent for full ratification but for now it remains deeply divided.
Jordan Bardella, chair of the right-wing EP group The Patriots and president of the French National Rally party, called it “a power grab against our farmers and an overwhelming majority of French people committed to their food sovereignty and our producers”.
