Overview
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Brussels will proceed with provisional application and will now formally notify Mercosur governments.
- An EU spokesperson said provisional application would take effect two months after the formal exchanges are completed.
- Von der Leyen sent a letter congratulating President Javier Milei, calling Argentina the first Mercosur country to meet all formal requirements and confirming the Commission’s intention to proceed.
- Uruguay has also ratified, and reporting indicates Brazil and Paraguay are expected to finalize their procedures in the coming days.
- The move goes ahead despite a pending EU court review and strong objections from France, as farm sector concerns rise and Mercosur members jockey for export quota allocations under the pact.