Mayo politicians welcome European Parliament decision to refer EU–Mercosur Trade Deal to court

After a narrow and closely contested vote, the European Parliament has decided to refer the EU–Mercosur trade agreement to the European Court of Justice.

Yesterday (Wednesday, January 21), MEPs voted 334 to 324, with eleven abstentions, to seek a legal opinion on whether the agreement can be provisionally applied before full ratification and whether it is compatible with EU treaties, particularly in relation to environmental and consumer protection standards. The referral could delay the implementation of the deal by up to 18 months or longer.

Sinn Féin TD for Mayo, Rose Conway-Walsh, described the vote as a “major political victory for Irish farmers” and said it demonstrated that the agreement is “not a done deal”. She said the referral would place the agreement under formal legal scrutiny and create political space for further opposition.

“Sinn Féin will continue to lead that effort - standing with farmers and consumers, defending public health, protecting the environment, and insisting that Ireland’s trade policy reflects our values, not the demands of powerful corporate lobbies,” she added.

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Independent Mayo County Councillor Patsy O’Brien also welcomed the vote, describing it as “the first real sign that political pressure is finally being felt in Brussels”. Based in Robeen, Cllr O’Brien has been a prominent local opponent of the agreement and has lobbied politicians and farming bodies in Ireland and Europe.

“This shows that sustained lobbying does work,” Cllr O’Brien said. “Farmers have been saying from the very beginning that this deal is fundamentally flawed, and now, at last, that message is beginning to cut through at European level. Irish farmers deserve a level playing field – and with this agreement, that simply does not exist.

Cllr O’Brien also added that the European Commission had “moved far too quickly” in pushing the agreement forward and that the legal referral was both necessary and overdue.

The European Court of Justice is now expected to examine the agreement’s legality, a step that could significantly influence its future.

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