Longford MEP Ciaran Mullooly: Referral of Mercosur to European Court 'a critical step in defending farmers'

Longford MEP Ciaran Mullooly has welcomed today’s decision by the European Parliament to refer the EU–Mercosur trade agreement to the European Court, describing the vote as a pivotal moment for legal certainty, democratic oversight, and the protection of European farmers.

In a closely contested vote in Strasbourg, MEPs backed the referral by 334 votes to 324, with 11 abstentions, triggering a judicial review that will significantly delay the agreement and place its legal foundations under formal scrutiny by the Court.

Reacting to the result, Mullooly said the Parliament had acted responsibly and in line with its duty as a co-legislator.

“Today the European Parliament did what it is supposed to do in a rules-based union: it insisted on legal certainty before allowing an irreversible decision to move forward,” Mullooly said. “This was not a vote against trade - it was a vote for the rule of law.”

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Mullooly said the decision marks a critical step in defending farmers, consumers and the integrity of EU law, and acknowledged the scale of public concern that influenced the outcome.

He congratulated the thousands of Irish farmers who, alongside their counterparts across Europe, sent a clear and united message that the Mercosur agreement, in its current form, is not in the interests of European agriculture or food standards.

He also highlighted the intensive engagement across the Parliament in the days leading up to the vote.

“Over the course of this week in Strasbourg, I spoke with countless MEPs from all over Europe about the importance of referring this agreement to the European Court of Justice,”  Mullooly said. “There was a shared understanding that before such a far-reaching deal proceeds, its legal foundations must be absolutely sound.”

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Mullooly stressed that seeking a Court opinion is a matter of due process, not obstruction.

“This decision is about legal certainty and democratic accountability. Asking the Court to examine the agreement is not about blocking trade - it is about making sure the rules have been followed and that Parliament’s role is respected.”

The Midlands-North-West MEP confirmed that he will continue to work closely with colleagues from a wide range of Member States who have committed to supporting the referral and ensuring that the legal review is fully respected.

He concluded by emphasising that farmers and consumers across Europe will be watching the next steps closely as the judicial process unfolds.

Meanwhile, ICSA president Sean McNamara has said today’s vote by the European Parliament to refer the Mercosur trade deal to the European Court of Justice is a major victory for farmers, democracy and common sense. 

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Speaking from Strasbourg where he is protesting the deal alongside farmers from across Europe, Mr McNamara said the result shows that Mercosur is far from a done deal and that sustained farmer pressure is having a real impact. “The Parliament voted 334 to 324 in favour of sending this deal to the European Court of Justice. That is a clear signal that serious concerns remain and that this agreement cannot simply be waved through,” he said.

Continuing Mr McNamara said, “This is not a vote on the Mercosur trade deal itself, but it is a decisive move that could delay ratification by up to two years and could even stop this deal entirely. Anyone claiming Mercosur was inevitable has been proven wrong. Farmers were told time and again that this was a done deal and that resistance was pointless. We never accepted that and today shows that standing firm and keeping the pressure on does work.”

He also said that any move to split the agreement and provisionally apply the trade elements of the deal while the legal process is ongoing would be completely unacceptable. “To try to push this through while the Court is examining it would be a slap in the face to democracy and to every farmer who has taken the time to stand up and be heard,” he said.

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Concluding, Mr McNamara said today’s vote proves that Mercosur can be stopped and that farmers must stay united and keep fighting. “This fight is far from over, but today is proof that this deal can be challenged and beaten. We will not be backing down.”