The EU-Mercosur free trade agreement entered provisional application on May 1, following more than 25 years of negotiations, Euronews reported the same day. The deal covers trade between the European Union and Mercosur members Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, while Bolivia, which only joined Mercosur in 2024, was not part of the negotiations but may accede to the agreement at a later stage.

The European Commission signed the agreement in January after securing backing from a majority of EU member states, authorizing provisional application pending ratification procedures in Mercosur countries and the European Parliament. In May, the European Commission proceeded despite a legal challenge before the EU Court of Justice and ongoing political opposition in several capitals, including France. Under EU rules, provisional application can begin two months after at least one Mercosur member ratifies the agreement and notifies Brussels; Argentina and Uruguay ratified it in February. The move followed months of farmer protests across Europe and continued disagreement over trade, environmental standards and agricultural safeguards.