PiS intended to recall Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski over EU-Mercosur trade deal but failed to submit the motion, according to party insiders.
PiS Plans Minister Recall Over Trade Deal
As reported by Wirtualna Polska, in the first half of January, PiS club chairman Mariusz Błaszczak announced plans to submit a motion to recall Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Stefan Krajewski. However, the faction has not yet done so. Representatives of Jarosław Kaczyński’s party accuse the minister of failing to block the Mercosur agreement.
“A blunder, what can I say,” said a PiS MP in conversation with the service. “Someone clearly didn’t do their job.”
EU Signs Historic Trade Agreement With Mercosur
After 25 years of negotiations, the European Union signed a trade agreement with the four Mercosur countries. The ceremony took place in Paraguay. The agreement was approved by a majority of countries, with objections from Poland, Austria, France, Ireland, and Hungary. The agreement removes trade barriers with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay and tariffs on over 90% of products. The President of the European Commission called this agreement “historic.”
MEPs Send Mercosur Deal to European Court
At the Wednesday session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, a motion was passed to send the agreement to the Court of Justice in Luxembourg. It was prepared by a group of Polish deputies led by Krzysztof Hetman of the Polish People’s Party. As expected, the majority in favor of sending to the Court was small, with a margin of 10 votes. 334 MEPs voted to send the agreement to the Court, while 324 were against.
Potential Delays and Legal Challenges Ahead
This decision may delay the ratification of the Mercosur agreement in the European Parliament, as deputies will likely postpone voting on the entire agreement until the Court issues its opinion, which could take up to two years. Some believe that the agreement could be provisionally applied without waiting for the Court, which could lead to greater anger among farmers. There is also a risk of legal and trade chaos if the Court rules in favor of opponents who claim the agreement violates European law, particularly regarding food safety – food produced in Mercosur countries does not have to meet strict EU requirements as certain pesticides and antibiotics are used. The ratification process of the agreement also raises doubts.
