EU-Mercosur trade agreement to enter provisional effect from 1 May

The European Commission has now taken the final formal step to allow member states to begin using the agreement.

"Today is an important step in proving our credibility as a major trading partner. The priority now is to turn this EU-Mercosur agreement into concrete results," writes Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič in a press release.

The green light has already been given by a majority of EU member states. At the same time, there is strong opposition and anger in the European Parliament that the provisional application is taking place before MEPs have had the opportunity to vote on the matter. Parliament has also taken the agreement to court.