European Union lawmakers on Wednesday voted to hold up ratification of a major free trade agreement with the Mercosur group of South American countries over concerns about the legality of the deal. ADVERTISEMENTThe assembly cannot vote to approve the pact until the European Court of Justice has ruled, and this could take months. The long-sought-after free trade agreement was signed into effect on Saturday. Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot welcomed the parliament's vote, saying in a social media post that the assembly “expressed itself in line with the position that we have defended. Bolivia, the bloc's newest member, is not included in the trade deal, but could join in the coming years.

Source: The Telegraph January 21, 2026 14:28 UTC