RIO DE JANEIRO, February 3, 2026 – The long-standing commercial chess match between the European Union and Mercosur received a decisive — or perhaps desperate — move this Monday. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in a clear signal that Berlin’s patience with Brussels’ internal delays has evaporated, openly advocated for the provisional entry into force of the trade treaty.
This strategy bypasses the lengthy queue for scrutiny by the European Court of Justice, exposing Germany’s urgency to diversify markets and secure raw materials in a 2026 landscape defined by fragile supply chains and the tech hegemony of China and the United States.
Editorial Perspectives
The Death of Polite Diplomacy
Merz, whose government has been characterized by aggressive economic realism, was emphatic in stating that “last-minute” attempts to block ratification in the European Parliament are destined for failure. The Chancellor’s dry tone reveals the isolation of France, which, under pressure from its farming lobby, has tried until the final hour to erect environmental and sanitary barriers to protect its domestic market. For Merz, the era of diplomatic rhetoric is over. The Chancellor understands that Europe can no longer afford to remain a regulatory museum while the rest of the world redraws its trade routes.
South American Gears
The provisional implementation proposed by Berlin is a legal mechanism within the EU’s treaty architecture that allows the trade component of the deal to be executed following approval by the European Council and just one of the South American parliaments. With Brazil and Paraguay accelerating their internal processes earlier this year, the path is cleared. For the German industrial sector, opening the South American market is not merely a profit opportunity; it is an existential necessity to maintain export competitiveness in 2026.
The Specter of the Court of Justice
Merz’s direct mention of the European Court of Justice was no accident. The Chancellor knows that legal proceedings can drag on for years. By defending provisional validity, he creates a fait accompli. If the deal is already operational, the established commercial relations will generate economic inertia that is difficult for bureaucrats in Luxembourg to reverse. It is the victory of economic reality over legal formality, reflecting the new pragmatism Friedrich Merz has imposed on the heart of Europe.
The EU-Mercosur Agreement in 2026
1. What does “provisional entry into force” mean?
It allows the commercial pillars of the agreement (tariff reductions and quotas) to take effect before full ratification by all EU member states, requiring only approval from the European Parliament and the Council.
2. Why is Germany pushing for the deal so aggressively now?
In 2026, Germany faces fierce competition from China and the United States. Mercosur provides access to critical resources like lithium and green hydrogen, essential for Germany’s industrial transition.
3. What is France’s role in this stalemate?
France leads the protectionist bloc, utilizing environmental justifications to delay the agreement and protect its meat and grain producers from South American competition.
4. Can the European Court of Justice nullify the agreement?
Technically yes, but the process is slow. Merz gambles that by the time a ruling is issued, the economic benefits will be so consolidated that a reversal would be politically unfeasible.
5. Which Mercosur countries are priorities for ratification?
Brazil and Paraguay are seen as the most agile players currently, serving as the necessary links to trigger the provisional implementation clause demanded by Berlin.
