Greenpeace Welcomes European Parliament Decision to Refer Mercosur Deal to EU Court

On Wednesday 21 January 2026, Greenpeace Luxembourg issued a statement in response to the decision of the European Parliament to refer the EU-Mercosur trade agreement to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

With 334 votes in favour, 324 against and eleven abstentions, MEPs voted to request a legal opinion from the CJEU on the agreement's compatibility with EU treaties.

Gauthier Hansel, Campaigner at Greenpeace Luxembourg, commented: "This vote demonstrates once again the unpopularity of this destructive treaty. The European Parliament has expressed serious doubts about an agreement that directly threatens the Amazon, the climate and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Given the numerous questions raised by legal experts, a review by the Court of Justice is essential. The European Commission and national governments, including Luxembourg, must respect these concerns and await the Court's ruling before proceeding with ratification. Imposing provisional application without Parliament's approval would constitute an unacceptable denial of democracy."

Of Luxembourg's six MEPs, Tilly Metz (Greens / European Free Alliance) and Fernand Kartheiser (non-attached) voted in favour of referring the agreement to the Court. Marc Angel (Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats), Isabel Wiseler-Lima (European People's Party), Charles Goerens (Renew Europe) and Martine Kemp (European People's Party) voted against.

Gauthier Hansel added that Tilly Metz and Fernand Kartheiser had "thankfully spoken out in favour of this necessary legal oversight", while the other Luxembourg MEPs would "have to justify their refusal to seek the Court's opinion on such a harmful and problematic agreement."