Amid ongoing concerns from farmers and lawmakers over its potential impact, the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is slated for debate and ratification in the Luxembourgish parliament in early 2026.
Foreign Trade Minister Xavier Bettel has informed MPs that the framework agreement for the EU-Mercosur trade deal could be submitted to the Luxembourgish parliament for ratification in early 2026.
Appearing before the relevant parliamentary committee, Minister Bettel reiterated the government's support for the European Commission's revised text of the agreement. He noted that the updated version contains additional guarantees, which were a necessary condition for the Grand Duchy's consent.
Before the agreement can enter into force, the text must be ratified by the Chamber of Deputies. This step has drawn attention due to significant concerns, particularly from the agricultural sector, about the potential negative consequences of a free trade deal with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. These apprehensions were echoed by a number of MPs across various political parties.
It is important to note that the trade agreement itself does not require approval from individual national parliaments – a point criticised recently by environmental organisations like Greenpeace. The European Commission granted its formal approval for the long-negotiated agreement earlier this month, following the provisional endorsement given by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the end of 2023.
For the EU-Mercosur agreement to be fully implemented, it must now receive final consent from the European Parliament and all member states.
