How the Irish MEPs voted

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The European Parliament decided today to request the European Court of Justice to assess whether the EU-Mercosur agreement is in conformity with the EU treaties.

With 334 votes in favour, 324 against and 11 abstentions, the European Parliament adopted a resolution asking for a legal opinion from the European Court of Justice (ECJ) on the agreement.

Next steps

The legal basis of the EU-Mercosur partnership agreement (EMPA) and the interim trade agreement (iTA) will now be reviewed by the ECJ. The European Parliament will continue its examination of the texts, while awaiting the opinion of the EU Court. Only then, Parliament will be able to vote to grant consent (or not) to the Agreement.

The Parliament won’t be able to vote on the deal itself until the court has issued its opinion - a process that typically takes between 18 to 24 months.

The outcome represents a major defeat for the European Commission and countries backing the deal, which want to deepen ties with the Mercosur countries. “The more trading partners we have world-wide, the more independent we are. And that is exactly what we need now,” the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a last-minute appeal to lawmakers earlier on Wednesday.

Of the Irish MEPs, the following nine voted for the referral to the ECJ:

  • Lynn Boylan Sinn Féin – The Left
  • Nina Carberry Fine Gael – European People’s Party
  • Barry Cowen Fianna Fáil – Renew Europe
  • Kathleen Function Sinn Féin – The Left
  • Billy Kelleher Fianna Fáil – Renew Europe
  • Michael McNamara Independent – Renew Europe
  • Cynthia Ní Mhurchú Fianna Fáil – Renew Europe
  • Ciaran Mullooly Independent Ireland – Renew Europe
  • Aodhán Ó Ríordáin Labour Party – Socialists and Democrats

The following 4 voted against the resolution:

  • Barry Andrews Fianna Fáil – Renew Europe
  • Seán Kelly Fine Gael – European People’s Party
  • Regina Doherty Fine Gael – European People’s Party
  • Maria Walsh Fine Gael – European People’s Party

Did not vote: Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan Independent – The Left. On social media, MEP Flanagan said it was "torture" for him to be unable on doctor's advice, to attend parliament to send the proposed Mercosur agreement to the European Court of Justice.

To see the full list of roll-call votes click here.

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