Von der Leyen: we apply Mercosur agreement provisionally
from our correspondent Beda Romano
BRUSSELS - The European Commission announced today, Friday 27 February, that it intends to go ahead with the provisional application of the trade agreement with Mercosur, the Latin American organisation that brings together Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. The treaty was signed in Assumption last January. At the time, the Twenty-Seven had empowered the EU executive to apply the agreement provisionally.
Von der Leyen's announcement
The announcement, by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was made this morning. "I have said it before: when they are ready, we will be ready. In recent weeks I have discussed this issue intensively with the Member States and the members of the European Parliament. On this basis, the European Commission will now proceed with the provisional application."
Approval in Argentina and Uruguay
The understanding provides for provisional application by the European side on the basis of the completion of the ratification process by at least one Mercosur member country. In recent days, both Argentina and Uruguay have ratified the treaty. Brazil is expected to follow shortly. On the European front, the situation is more complicated. The European Parliament has requested an opinion from the European Court of Justice on the legal validity of the text.
The ratification vote by Strasbourg will only come after the green light from the EU judiciary, possibly in 12 to 24 months. In the meantime, however, provisional application is possible, as decided by the Twenty-Seven in January. On that occasion, the member states approved the agreement, despite France, Austria, Ireland, Poland and Hungary voting against - Belgium abstained.
Concretely, provisional application will begin on the first day of the second month following the date on which the EU and the Mercosur countries that have ratified the treaty exchange the necessary verbal notes. At that point, the agreement will apply to all Mercosur countries that have ratified it, plus of course the 27 EU member states. The exchange of verbal notes has not yet taken place, and no date has yet been set for when it should take place.
