European Parliament Battles Over Mercosur Trade Agreement: Censure Motion Filed Against Von der Leyen

The European Parliament has emerged as the last bastion for those opposing the EU's contentious trade agreement with the South American bloc known as Mercosur, consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. As the signing of the trade deal approaches this Saturday in Paraguay, the far-right faction within the European Parliament has seized upon this opportunity to challenge the leadership of European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen. The Patriots group, which includes Spain's Vox party, has announced its intention to register a motion of censure against Von der Leyen, leveraging the trade agreement as a political tool to undermine her authority. This is not the first time the far-right has targeted Von der Leyen; they have previously launched two motions of censure during the current legislative term. The first came in July 2025, focused on the controversial ruling that allowed for the confidentiality of conversations between Von der Leyen and Pfizer during the COVID-19 vaccine procurement process. The second motion coincided with a push from The Left concerning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, criticizing Von der Leyen's perceived failures in managing public safety, economic stability, and transparency within the EU. Despite these efforts, both prior motions were unsuccessful as Von der Leyen continues to enjoy support from conservative, social-democratic, and liberal factions within the European Parliament. However, these challenges have underscored perceived vulnerabilities in her leadership. Currently, the likelihood of the far-right's success in ousting Von der Leyen seems low. Nonetheless, the situation has the potential to further destabilize the European institutional framework. Especially as France, a key opponent of the Mercosur agreement, is mobilizing support within the European Parliament in hopes of amending the trade deal to incorporate stronger protective measures for European products. French President Emmanuel Macron's opposition can be attributed, at least in part, to the growing influence of the far-right in France, which is looking to capitalize on public discontent for political gain. The far-right argues that the Mercosur agreement jeopardizes European food sovereignty and poses a threat to Spanish and European agriculture, citing concerns over increased competition from products that do not meet European health, environmental, and labor standards. In addition to the motion of censure, the Patriots group has also introduced a resolution urging the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) to assess the legality of the Mercosur agreement. A Vox representative has confirmed that all members of their group, alongside 20 MEPs from another far-right group, the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), have signed this resolution. Simultaneously, a similar request has been made by a coalition of 145 MEPs from the left and greens, both of which could be subject to a vote in the European Parliament plenary next week. If successful, these requests would escalate to the CJEU, which would review whether the Mercosur agreement aligns with EU Treaties per Article 21111 of the CJEU. A ruling from the CJEU could delay the implementation of the trade agreement while it evaluates its compliance, potentially blocking the agreement either in part or entirely if any violations are found. This unfolding drama within the European Parliament highlights the intersection of trade policy and political maneuvering, revealing the complexities and contentious nature of global agreements in an increasingly polarized environment. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2