Today’s decision by the European Parliament is a victory for farmers and communities across Europe

 

21 January 2026, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

A significant victory for farmers and the people of Europe was achieved today in the European Parliament thanks to the initiative and decisive contribution of the Political Group of the Left. The European Parliament decided to freeze the EU-Mercosur agreement and refer it to the Court of Justice of the European Union for an opinion on its compatibility with the EU Treaties.

The Mercosur Agreement between the EU and four Latin American countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) paves the way for massive imports of agricultural products, effectively undermining social, labour, and health standards, hurting small and medium-sized farmers and ranchers, and intensifying environmental destruction and ecosystem depletion. In other words, it puts the interests of multinational companies over and above public health and rural development in member states.

That is precisely why today’s decision by the European Parliament to seek an opinion from the ECJ acts as a bulwark, not only legally but also politically. It is also a strong message against the logic of closed agreements against European governments—including the Christodoulides government—that negotiate without consulting citizens and limit the voice of national parliaments, agricultural organizations, and societies.

This victory was the result of an initiative taken by the Left Group, of which AKEL is a member, which was adopted by hundreds of MEPs from all other Political Groups.

On the other hand, the two MEPs from DISY chose to vote against the resolution to refer the matter to the ECJ, thus siding with vested interests against farmers and European societies.

21.01.2026