“The Mercosur agreement is set to enter into force without approval by the European Parliament. Rule of law!” writes Beata Szydło, a Member of the European Parliament from Law and Justice (PiS), on social media.
On Friday, the ambassadors of the European Union member states to the EU will vote on the agreement. If the outcome proves favorable to supporters of the EU-Mercosur deal, its official signing could take place as early as next Monday (12 January) in Paraguay.
Unexpectedly, Cyprus withdrew from the package concerning the agreement a declaration by the Council of the European Union stating that the Mercosur agreement cannot enter into force on a provisional basis until it has been approved by the European Parliament.
This means that the agreement will enter into force immediately after receiving Mercosur’s consent, that is, directly after it is signed on Monday.
According to media reports, Cypriot politicians were persuaded to take this decision by the European Commission.
“This is a real scandal […] This is a complete bypassing of the EP. Goods from Mercosur will de facto be able to start flowing into the Union from Tuesday, as soon as the last Mercosur country approves the agreement,” an EU diplomat told RMF FM.
Szydło: rule of law!
Beata Szydło, former Prime Minister of Poland, also referred to the above information on social media.
“The Mercosur agreement is set to enter into force without approval by the European Parliament. Rule of law!” she commented.
As she pointed out, “this situation shows that this is no longer even about the Mercosur agreement. The European Commission is testing how far it can go in breaking the European Treaties.”
Today, shortly before a major protest in Warsaw, President Karol Nawrocki is expected to meet with representatives of Polish farmers.