{"id":47851,"date":"2026-01-09T12:41:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T11:41:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/eu-unit\/?p=47851"},"modified":"2026-01-09T13:04:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T12:04:48","slug":"showdown-incoming-as-meps-signal-discontent-over-eu-mercosur-trade-deal-von-der-leyen-to-sign-anyway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/eu-unit\/issues\/nature-food\/47851\/showdown-incoming-as-meps-signal-discontent-over-eu-mercosur-trade-deal-von-der-leyen-to-sign-anyway\/","title":{"rendered":"Showdown incoming as MEPs signal discontent over EU-Mercosur deal but von der Leyen to sign anyway"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u00a9 Johanna de Tessi\u00e8res \/ Green<\/div><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

Brussels<\/strong> <\/strong>\u2013 European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Paraguay next week\u00a0to sign a deeply unpopular trade deal with the Mercosur bloc of four South American countries, according to several media reports.<\/p>\n\n

The decision comes after a majority of EU countries reportedly voted to allow the Commission to sign the deal on the EU\u2019s behalf, despite continuing opposition<\/a> from several<\/a> parliaments<\/a> and governments<\/a> throughout Europe. <\/p>\n\n

In December 2025, the European Council failed to reach an agreement in favour of the trade agreement with Mercosur and withheld permission to sign the deal from von der Leyen. Italy was reportedly<\/a> the reason for the need to postpone a Council decision in that December meeting but has now shifted its position. <\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace EU campaigner Lis Cunha <\/strong>said: \u201cUrsula von der Leyen will sign the agreement with Mercosur <\/em>next week<\/em> and act like this is a done deal when it\u2019s anything but. MEPs still have to have their say on the overall agreement. Von der Leyen can attempt to project an air of confidence in <\/em>Paraguay,<\/em> but the simple truth is that this unpopular deal is a disaster for the Amazon rainforest and no progressive MEP that is committed to forest protection should ever support it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace Brazil senior forest campaigner Romulo Batista<\/strong> said: \u201cThis is a harmful agreement which will compromise countries\u2019 efforts to face the climate emergency and the just transition. It is regrettable that an agreement with such an economic, social, political and environmental impact on Brazilian society, the Amazon rainforest and other Mercosur countries was negotiated behind closed doors, without social participation or transparency. This agreement encourages the import into Latin America of highly polluting and health-damaging products like cars, plastics and pesticides from Europe, in exchange for commodities often sourced from deforested areas. The context is even worse now, in light of the new delay to the EU\u2019s anti-deforestation law, the dismantling of Brazil\u2019s environmental licensing processes and the attacks against the Amazon Soy Moratorium. Beyond the socio-environmental impacts, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement will significantly hinder industrialisation and the creation of skilled jobs in Brazil and across Mercosur.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n

Waiting for EU-Mercosur<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Over 25 years of secret negotiations, a wide range of global civil society groups have repeatedly voiced steadfast opposition<\/a> and attempted to inform the public about the catastrophic impacts of a trade deal between the EU and Mercosur, a bloc of countries that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The agreement\u2019s adoption would be particularly harmful and controversial for the Amazon rainforest, at a time in which the EU\u2019s anti-deforestation law has been repeatedly delayed and weakened. <\/p>\n\n

Revelations have included that the deal will: jeopardise the EU Deforestation Regulation<\/a>, breach EU climate laws<\/a>, boost trade in plastics<\/a> and undermine efforts to agree a Global Plastics Treaty, facilitate the entry of a toxic cocktail of banned pesticides<\/a> into the EU, propel destructive agribusiness<\/a> and destroy precious ecosystems<\/a> in South America.<\/p>\n\n

Trade unions<\/a>, consumers<\/a>, human rights groups and environmental organisations<\/a>, economists<\/a>, indigenous peoples<\/a>, local municipalities<\/a> and other civil society organisations have criticised the agreement, not to mention the more than 2 million EU citizens<\/a> who have signed petitions opposing it. <\/p>\n\n

Stop EU-Mercosur, an alliance of more than 450 organisations in Europe and South America, has compiled a comprehensive and multilingual list of resources<\/a> on the many problems with this toxic deal.<\/p>\n\n

Next steps<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

According to media reports, EU governments controversially decided to provisionally apply the trade agreement before the European Parliament gives its consent, breaking with long standing EU practice. Decisions on the provisional application of trade agreements are normally applied only after the EU Parliament has taken a position on the agreement<\/a>. Despite today\u2019s highly questionable decision, the provisional application of the EU-Mercosur deal still requires the approval of at least one Mercosur country. <\/p>\n\n

However, before the trade agreement can fully enter into force, it must receive the consent of the European Parliament, which is not certain. In October 2025 the Parliament rejected<\/a> a statement \u201cwelcoming\u201d the EU-Mercosur deal. In November a large group of MEPs tabled a motion to seek the opinion of the European Court of Justice about whether the agreement is compatible with the EU Treaties. That motion was temporarily stopped by the intervention of European Parliament president Roberta Metsola, who controversially<\/a> and despite the existence of a precedent<\/a> claimed that the parliament cannot request an opinion from the ECJ at this point in the process. <\/p>\n\n

The unpopular deal continues to face determined opposition in Europe, and no date has yet been set for national governments or MEPs to ratify it. <\/p>\n\n

Contacts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace EU trade campaigner Lis Cunha:<\/strong> +32 (0)471 013 708, lis.cunha@greenpeace.org<\/a> <\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace EU press desk<\/strong>: +32 (0)2 274 1911, pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n

For breaking news and comment on EU affairs: Bluesky<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning network that acts to change attitudes and behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. We do not accept donations from governments, the EU, businesses or political parties. Greenpeace has over three million supporters, and 26 independent national and regional organisations with offices in more than 55 countries.<\/p>\n\n

EU Transparency Register: 9832909575-41<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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