Poland takes EU–MERCOSUR agreement to court, flags environmental concerns

Poland has lodged a formal complaint with the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) over the recently implemented EU–MERCOSUR trade agreement, which came into force on May 1, requesting that its application be suspended until the court reaches a decision.

Earlier, the Polish government approved filing the lawsuit at the Luxembourg-based court, with Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski confirming the decision to journalists last month, Caliber.Az reports, citing Polish media.

The EU–MERCOSUR agreement, designed to eliminate tariffs on more than 90% of traded goods, has raised concerns in Warsaw, which argues that its provisional application prior to full ratification, combined with certain content issues, undermines fairness for European farmers.

“Poland was one of the few EU countries to vote against this deal,” Krajewski noted, highlighting that Warsaw’s objections are both procedural and substantive. The government is particularly critical of the absence of so-called “mirror provisions,” which would require MERCOSUR producers to adhere to the same environmental and sanitary standards as the EU, potentially creating unequal competition conditions for European agriculture.

CJEU proceedings typically extend for over a year. Poland has therefore requested a temporary suspension of the agreement, which could be granted by the court’s vice president in the near future.

By Vafa Guliyeva