El Council of the European Union The qualified majority needed to authorize the signing of the Association Agreement between the European Union and MECOSUR was reached on Friday (January 9, 2026) in Brussels, according to an official press release. The decision marks a historical fact, by achieving a effective coordination of EU policies and ensure the necessary political support to conclude a negotiation process initiated more than 25 years ago between both blocs
It is worth recalling that the Council of the European Union is the body in which member states are represented at the ministerial level and which, together with the European Parliament, exercises the Union's legislative and budgetary functions. In this capacity, it formally authorized the EU to move forward with signing agreements with MERCOSUR—Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay—in order to establish a modern framework for political dialogue, cooperation, and bi-regional trade.
Following this decision, Paraguay, in its capacity as pro tempore president of MERCOSUR during the first half of 2026, received official communication from the European Union informing of the approval of the agreement, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The signing is scheduled for Saturday, January 17 in Asunción, a city of profound historical and symbolic value for regional integration, given that the MERCOSUR Constitutive Treaty was signed there in 1991.
The ceremony will take place before the Common Market Council (CMC), the bloc's highest political decision-making body, composed of the Foreign and Economy Ministers of the Member States and responsible for the political leadership of MERCOSUR.
The consensus reached yesterday was welcomed by the Presidency of the Council of the EUwho highlighted: "It will allow us to strengthen political cooperation, deepen economic ties and consolidate a fair and sustainable trade framework between both regions, in an international context marked by growing tensions and uncertainty."
The news was also celebrated in South America. Specifically, the Argentine government He emphasized the progress of the agreement. “More good news. End of story,” President Javier Milei posted, reposting a message from Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno about the free trade agreement. The official added: “Argentina and the Mercosur countries will have preferential access to the EU, the world’s third-largest economy, a market of 450 million people representing approximately 15% of global GDP.”
Some aspects of the agreement
Signature and ratification: Following authorization from the EU Council, the formal signing of the agreements will proceed. Final approval will depend on the consent of the European Parliament, which, together with the Council, must approve the text for it to enter into force.
Entry into force: The EU-MERCOSUR Association Agreement will enter into full force once the ratification processes have been completed by all EU Member States and the MERCOSUR parties. The Interim Trade Agreement (iTA) will apply on a transitional basis until the full agreement enters into force.
Economic impact: According to official data, the union will create the world's largest free trade area, with a potential market of over 700 million consumers. The EU is currently MERCOSUR's second-largest trading partner in goods, accounting for approximately 17% of the bloc's total trade. In 2024, trade exceeded €111.000 billion, representing growth of over 36% since 2014.
Customs impactThe agreement includes tariff measures and safeguards, such as the elimination or reduction of more than 90% of bilateral tariffs, with a direct impact on sectors like agriculture, the automotive industry, and pharmaceuticals and chemicals. In addition, safeguard clauses, particularly for agriculture, were incorporated to protect local producers from significant disruptions.
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