Following yesterday’s European Council summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that “everyone has already agreed to the EU-Mercosur agreement” and that there are no further objections. “It’s done,” he declared.
The news outlet Politico, in its bulletin, described the situation that unfolded on Thursday evening, in which German Chancellor Friedrich Merz played the central role.
According to reports, Merz stated after the summit that “all EU leaders voted in favor of signing the EU-Mercosur agreement” and added that “the path for Mercosur is now open.”
The German Chancellor emphasized that “everyone agreed” to the deal and that “there are no longer any objections from member states.”
True or not?
Politico pointed out that it was “not known” that the Mercosur agreement was to be voted on during Thursday’s summit. The outlet claimed that the breakthrough announced by Merz “is not true.” António Costa, President of the European Council, clarified that he had “only asked the heads of member states to speak with their ambassadors to resolve the final issues concerning the translation of the agreement.”
“That was all, we did not discuss it, and no decisions were made,”
Costa said.
„Alle zugestimmt … Es ist erledigt. Es ist durch.“
Diese Merz-Aussage zu einer angeblichen Mercosur-Einigung hat beim EU-Gipfel heute Abend für viel Verwunderung gesorgt.
Ratspräsident Costa widerspricht: „Wir haben weder darüber gesprochen noch eine Entscheidung getroffen.“ pic.twitter.com/ktVbUCU7Sd
— Hans von der Burchard (@vonderburchard) October 24, 2025
The adoption of the Mercosur trade agreement itself is still uncertain. For the deal to enter into force, it must be approved by the European Parliament and by at least 15 member states in the Council of the EU. National capitals will still have the opportunity to block the agreement if at least four of them object.
The European Commission concluded the agreement with the Mercosur bloc at the end of 2024, despite farmers’ concerns about the impact of imports on their livelihoods. The Commission assessed, however, that market disruptions were unlikely, as the quotas stipulated in the agreement for importing certain agricultural products from Mercosur countries into the EU provide sufficient safeguards for European agriculture. The enhanced safeguard mechanism proposed on Wednesday is intended to serve as an additional insurance policy.
