Overview
- EU member states approved the agreement on January 9 by qualified majority, with France, Austria, Ireland, Poland, and Hungary opposed.
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to travel to Paraguay on January 17 to sign the pact, while the European Parliament has not set a vote.
- Hungarian Agriculture Minister István Nagy said his government will file a case at the EU Court if the agreement is signed to prevent it from taking effect.
- Farmer groups and critics warn of cheaper imports from South America and weaker sanitary and environmental standards, following mass protests in 2024.
- Backers such as Germany and several Northern European countries cite gains for automotive, chemical, and pharmaceutical exports, with EU–MERCOSUR trade exceeding €112 billion.