The free trade agreement concluded by the European Commission with the countries of the South American Common Market (MERCOSUR) is fully democratically legitimate and can enter into force on a provisional basis as soon as the first South American country ratifies it.
This was stated by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as reported by Report.
‘The agreement with MERCOSUR has been under discussion for 25 years and has finally been signed,’ Merz said at a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. At the same time, he expressed ‘deep regret’ that the European Parliament passed a resolution last Wednesday in support of appealing to the court on the agreement’s compliance with EU rules. ‘For me, the democratic legitimacy of this agreement is beyond doubt,’ Merz stressed, adding that the decision was taken by a qualified majority.
The chancellor noted that without Italy’s consent, the necessary qualified majority in the European Council would not have been achieved. ‘Thus, this agreement is democratically legitimate in the fullest sense of the word, at least for its provisional entry into force. And it is precisely this provisional entry into force that must take place. The relevant decision was taken by the EU Council of Ministers two weeks ago,’ Merz pointed out.
