On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council implementing the bilateral safeguard clause of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement and the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement for agricultural products

PR_COD_1amCom

Symbols for procedures

* Consultation procedure

*** Consent procedure

***I Ordinary legislative procedure (first reading)

***II Ordinary legislative procedure (second reading)

***III Ordinary legislative procedure (third reading)

(The type of procedure depends on the legal basis proposed by the draft act.)

Amendments to a draft act

Amendments by Parliament set out in two columns

Deletions are indicated in bold italics in the left-hand column. Replacements are indicated in bold italics in both columns. New text is indicated in bold italics in the right-hand column.

The first and second lines of the header of each amendment identify the relevant part of the draft act under consideration. If an amendment pertains to an existing act that the draft act is seeking to amend, the amendment heading includes a third line identifying the existing act and a fourth line identifying the provision in that act that Parliament wishes to amend.

Amendments by Parliament in the form of a consolidated text

New text is highlighted in bold italics. Deletions are indicated using either the ▌symbol or strikeout. Replacements are indicated by highlighting the new text in bold italics and by deleting or striking out the text that has been replaced.

By way of exception, purely technical changes made by the drafting departments in preparing the final text are not highlighted.

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council implementing the bilateral safeguard clause of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement and the EU-Mercosur Interim Trade Agreement for agricultural products

(COM(2025)0639 – C100247/2025 – 2025/0322(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2025)0639),

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 207(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C100247/2025),

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to Rule 60 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on International Trade (A100000/2025),

1. Adopts its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal;

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

This proposal for a Regulation implementing the bilateral safeguard clause of the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement and the Interim Trade Agreement for agricultural products constitutes a key instrument to ensure that trade liberalisation is accompanied by effective protection mechanisms for the Union’s most sensitive agricultural sectors. It strengthens the EU’s ability to react swiftly, proportionately and with legal certainty when imports from Mercosur countries cause, or threaten to cause, serious injury to EU producers.

European farmers have consistently expressed concerns about the potential impact of the agreement on agricultural markets. The safeguard mechanism proposed by the Commission responds adequately to these concerns. It establishes clear procedures, strict timelines, objective criteria and a robust operational framework that together ensure market stability and provide credible protection against sudden disturbances.

The Rapporteur considers that the Commission proposal strikes the appropriate balance between legal certainty, operational effectiveness and proportionality. The mechanism is consistent with established EU practice in other trade agreements and offers a reliable safeguard in a context where the confidence of the agricultural sector is essential for the overall acceptance of the EU-Mercosur Agreement.

Given the technical nature of the Regulation and the importance of ensuring its swift adoption, the Rapporteur has decided not to table amendments. Preserving the text as proposed by the Commission will facilitate rapid progress on an instrument that is essential for safeguarding European agriculture within the framework of the EU-Mercosur Agreement.

This Regulation is not merely a technical exercise. It reflects the Union’s broader commitment to protecting its agricultural production, ensuring market stability, maintaining the competitiveness of its farmers and providing solid guarantees against potential market disruptions arising from trade liberalisation. Its timely adoption, without modifications, is therefore both necessary and strategically important.