LAST UPDATE | 21 Jan

THE CONTROVERSIAL MERCOSUR trade deal has hit a roadblock after MEPs narrowly voted to refer it to the top EU court to determine whether the deal is compatible with the bloc’s policy.

It delays the formal ratification of the colossal agreement deal with South American economies until the legal advice is provided by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), with many MEPs believing it could take up to two years before the deal can be implemented.

Today’s vote in Strasbourg was a close-run thing, with MEPs voting 334 to 324 in favour of asking the CJEU to determine whether the deal is compatible with EU policy.

So, how did Ireland’s representation in the European Parliament vote?

Nine out of 14 of our MEPs voted in favour of referring the EU-Mercosur deal to the court, four voted against referral and one MEP was absent.

Fine Gael’s Nina Carberry posted on social media, saying that farmers “deserve a level playing field” and that the deal in its current form does not provide that.

Carberry was the odd one out among her party, as her fellow Midlands-Northwest MEP Maria Walsh, Dublin MEP Regina Doherty and Ireland South’s Sean Kelly all voted against referring the agreement for a legal assessment.

My statement on Mercosur 👇 pic.twitter.com/m71I8oOFFq

— Nina Carberry MEP (@ninacarberry) January 21, 2026

For Fianna Fáil, the majority of its EU representation voted in favour of getting the court’s legal opinion.

This included Barry Cowen of Midlands–North-West and both of the party’s Ireland South MEPs, Billy Kelleher and Cynthia Ní Mhurchú.

Kelleher said that the European Commission had attempted to “plough ahead” and ignore the issues raised by opponents, which included “suboptimal beef” entering the EU.

Fianna Fáil MEP for Dublin Barry Andrews was the sole Fianna Fáil representative who wanted to see Mercosur ratified in its current form.

Explaining his reasoning, Andrews said today’s vote “sends the wrong signal, at precisely the wrong time”, given plummeting relations with the US.

“Europe needs all the friends it can get in the world these days and Latin America has the door open,” Andrews said.

He also hit out at employers representative group Ibec for not promoting the deal’s benefits for various sectors aside from farming.

This trade deal presents lots of opportunities for Irish businesses. It is disappointing that IBEC and so many business sectors remained quiet so far in the debate, which is being dominated by one sector.

Sinn Féin’s two MEPs both voted for referral – Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion – who were signatories on the proposal to refer the deal to the top court.

They have insisted that the Mercosur deal is bad for the climate, bad for health, and bad for Irish farmers.

Boylan said that the EU had “sacrificed key deforestation rules” to try and get the deal over the line, highlighting that human rights groups had raised concerns about the deal due to the impact on indigenous groups in South America.

Funchion said the deal was “toxic” and needed to be opposed.

“Claims that we must accept Mercosur in the name of trade diversification, particularly in the context of global instability, cannot be allowed to become a smokescreen for ramming through a rotten trade deal,” she added.

While Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan was absent today for medical reasons and marked down as an abstention, he was previously one of the MEPs who signed the resolution proposing that the deal be referred to the ECJ.

He was happily watching along from Ireland, though.

Independent Ireland’s Ciaran Mullooly voted in favour of referral, calling it a “good day” for democracy.

He also reminded followers on social media that today was not a vote on the overall trade deal.

We won!!!! The Mercosur Trade deal will go to the European courts !!

It’s a good day for democracy and the protection of YOUR rights

This is NOT a vote on the overall trade deal .

That will come in the future pic.twitter.com/DzJOxANonX

— Ciaran Mullooly MEP (@ciaranmullooly) January 21, 2026

Elsewhere, both Dublin Labour MEP Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and Ireland South Independent Michael McNamara voted in favour of referring the deal to the ECJ.

How did Ireland’s representation in the European Parliament vote?

Ten out of 14 of our MEPs voted in favour of referring the EU-Mercosur deal to the court, three voted against referral and one MEP was absent.