BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
The European Union is prepared to move ahead with the provisional implementation of a sweeping free trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc of South American nations, despite efforts by the European Parliament to slow the ratification process, the head of the EU’s executive branch said Friday.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the commission was willing to act as soon as at least one Mercosur country formally ratifies the accord, underscoring Brussels’ determination to unlock the economic benefits of the deal without waiting for the entire ratification process to conclude. Her comments came at the close of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels, where the agreement emerged as a contentious topic among member states.
“There is a clear interest in ensuring that the benefits of this agreement apply as soon as possible,” von der Leyen told reporters. “In short, we will be ready when they are ready.” She stressed, however, that no formal decision on provisional implementation had yet been taken.
Antonio Costa, the president of the European Council, which represents EU member governments, said at the same news conference that the European Commission has the legal authority to pursue interim application of the agreement if it chooses to do so.
Any move in that direction is likely to inflame opposition from critics of the deal, led by France. Earlier this week, the European Parliament narrowly voted to refer the agreement to the European Court of Justice for a legal review, effectively putting ratification on hold. Under EU rules, lawmakers cannot vote to ratify the deal until the court delivers its opinion, a process that could take several months.
The trade pact is a cornerstone of the EU’s broader strategy to diversify its global economic partnerships and reduce long-standing dependence on the United States. That push has gained urgency amid strained transatlantic relations following antagonistic trade policies and diplomatic friction during U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term. In recent years, Brussels has concluded trade agreements with partners ranging from Japan to Mexico and is expected to finalize a similar deal with India later this month.
Backed by South America’s major agricultural exporters and by European industrial and manufacturing interests, the EU–Mercosur agreement would gradually eliminate more than 90% of tariffs on traded goods. Products covered range from Argentine beef and Brazilian agricultural commodities to European automobiles, machinery and industrial equipment. Supporters say the deal would create one of the world’s largest free trade areas, lowering prices and expanding choices for more than 700 million consumers on both sides of the Atlantic.
France, home to the EU’s largest agricultural sector, has emerged as the most vocal opponent. Paris has argued that the agreement does not provide sufficient safeguards for European farmers and could expose them to unfair competition. French officials have repeatedly called for stronger protections and have sought to delay or amend the pact.
Germany, by contrast, has pressed for swift action. Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the European Parliament’s decision to delay ratification as “regrettable” and has openly advocated for provisional application of the agreement, emphasizing its importance for European exporters and the bloc’s global competitiveness.
In South America, ratification is widely seen as a formality. The deal enjoys broad political support across much of the region, where governments view improved access to the European market as a major economic opportunity.
Mercosur is made up of Argentina and Brazil, South America’s two largest economies, along with Paraguay and Uruguay. Bolivia, which recently joined the bloc, is not included in the current trade agreement but could be added in future negotiations. Venezuela remains suspended from Mercosur and is not part of the accord.
As legal and political hurdles persist in Europe, the debate over provisional implementation highlights the EU’s growing urgency to secure new trade alliances, even as internal divisions threaten to slow the path forward.
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