Institutional showdown in Bruxelles
Following the controversial signing of the free trade agreement between the Union européenne and Mercosur by the Commission européenne, the Parlement européen voted to refer the matter to the Cour de justice de l'Union européenne to verify the legality of the text. This move is firmly supported by French farmers.
On January 17, the president of the Commission européenne signed the agreement with the Mercosur countries (Argentine, Brésil, Paraguay, Uruguay). This signing took place despite the clear opposition of several member states, including France.
The response was not long in coming. On January 21, the Parlement européen adopted a resolution to refer the matter to the Cour de justice de l'Union européenne (CJUE). This tight vote saw 334 MEPs vote in favor of the referral against 324 votes and 11 abstentions.
The objective is to verify the legal validity of the trade agreement. A process that pushes back the horizon of a final validation. The final vote of the Parlement européen on the substance of the case is not expected for another year and a half.
For opponents of the text, the procedure followed is questionable.
François-Xavier Bellamy, MEP (LR), pointed out the existence of "manifest legal flaws in the process that led to the signature of Mercosur". Even if the Commission européenne retains the possibility of provisionally applying the agreement, such a decision would be politically risky while the courts have been petitioned.
Relief for French farmers
In France, this decision by the Parlement européen was received with relief by the main trade union organizations. The FNSEA, the Jeunes Agriculteurs, the Coordination rurale, and the Confédération paysanne welcomed this institutional setback.
For the profession, this agreement represents a direct threat to European agriculture, which is deemed more sustainable and subject to strict standards. The unions denounce unfair competition. They point out the major differences in production conditions between the two continents.
These differences notably concern the use of pesticides, growth hormones, or GMOs banned in Europe. The recent demonstrations by French farmers seem to have tipped the scales to shift the position of MEPs.
Towards a comprehensive review of agricultural policy
According to agricultural leaders, the Commission européenne must refrain from any application, even symbolic, of the commercial section before the final court decision, expected by 2027. Beyond the legal aspect, the issue of food self-sufficiency is at the center of the debates.
Right-wing political movements and agricultural unions are calling for a comprehensive review of agricultural policy. They demand the exclusion of agriculture from free trade agreements and mirror measures against products that do not comply with European standards.
Bernard Bertucco Van Damme