Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul has issued a blunt warning after the European Parliament voted to seek a legal review of the EU–Mercosur trade agreement, calling the move a serious political error that risks delaying one of Europe’s most strategic trade deals.
Speaking to German public radio, Wadephul said the decision to refer the agreement to the European Court of Justice could trigger long delays and damage political trust just days after negotiations concluded following more than 25 years of talks.
The EU–Mercosur deal, finalized last week, would create one of the world’s largest free-trade zones, linking over 700 million people across Europe and South America, including Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Wadephul warned that the parliamentary vote represents a setback not only for trade but for Europe’s credibility as a negotiating power.
The referral narrowly passed with support from Germany’s Green lawmakers, who voted alongside right-wing factions such as Alternative for Germany. Critics of the deal argue it threatens European farmers and environmental standards, while supporters see it as a strategic counterweight to rising global protectionism.
The agreement is widely viewed as a signal that Europe remains open to large-scale trade partnerships at a time when global supply chains are under strain and geopolitical competition is intensifying.
Wadephul cautioned that countries including India are closely watching how the EU handles the Mercosur deal, assessing whether Europe can still negotiate and deliver complex international agreements.
He stressed that restoring lost trust must now be a priority, urging rapid progress on other trade talks, including negotiations with India and Australia.
With the timeline for a ruling by the Luxembourg-based court unclear, the future of the Mercosur agreement now hangs in legal and political limbo.
