European farmers protested against the Mercosur trade agreement in Strasbourg - the official seat of the European Parliament - on Tuesday (January 20) as EU lawmakers are set to vote on a legal challenge against it.

European Parliament will vote on Wednesday (January 21) on whether to refer the matter to the EU Court of Justice and suspend the ratification of the agreement.

Top officials from the EU and the South American bloc Mercosur signed the trade deal on Saturday (January 17) in Paraguay, paving the way for the European Union's largest-ever trade accord after 25 years of negotiations.

The president of French farmers union FNSEA said that asking whether the agreement is compliant with European law is a "valid question" and called for lawmakers of every political affiliation to take the case to EU top Court.

On Thursday (January 22) lawmakers will also vote on a motion of censure against the European Commission over the EU-Mercosur brought forward by the far-right Patriots for Europe group, marking the fourth such attempt to oust Ursula von der Leyen's commission since it took office in December 2024.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

STRASBOURG, FRANCE (JANUARY 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS HOLDING PLACARD READING (English): "STOP MERCOSUR"

2. VARIOUS OF POLICE IN FRONT OF EU PARLIAMENT

3. PROTESTERS GATHERED

4. TRACTORS PARKED IN LINE, PEOPLE WALKING

5. FARMERS PROTESTING HOLDING BANNER

6. PLACARDS AGAINST EU COMMISSION PRESIDENT URSULA VON DER LEYEN

7. FARMERS CHANTING (English): "VON DER LEYEN GO HOME"

8. BANNER READING (English): "VON DER LEYEN GO HOME"

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALIAN FARMER, MARCO VUERICH, SAYING:

“We are here because we do not agree with signing the Mercosur treaty, as it does not provide a future for our companies, and above all, there is no reciprocity. So, if the same rules do not apply to everyone, we cannot expect to give a future to our agricultural businesses or ensure that our young people stay in the area, look after the land, and—most importantly—build a future and keep their farms financially viable.”

10. VUERICH SPEAKING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH FARMER, BRICE GUYAU, SAYING:

“We have lost a battle but not the war with this signature. Today, the battle is taking the case to the Court of Justice. We hope that the Members of the European Parliament will agree with us in saying that the protocol used by (President of European Commission, Ursula) von der Leyen is not the right one. And regarding the import of products that do not comply with our standards, this is completely in line with what we defend every day, because the move upmarket that has taken place in France today must also be recognised in food trade exchanges.”

12. BANNER READING (French): " RURAL FRANCE IS BEAUTIFUL! AGRICULTURE IS ESSENTIAL TO LIFE... BE THANKFUL TO FARMERS. WE DEMAND MERCOSUR TO STOP. WE'LL HANDLE IT"

13: FARMERS HOLDING BANNER READING (French): "NO TO MERCOSUR"

14. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF FRENCH FARMERS UNION FNSEA, ARNAUD ROUSSEAU, SAYING:

“Many of us are saying that tomorrow we need EU lawmakers—regardless of their party, political affiliation, or country—to refer the matter to the Court of Justice to determine whether this agreement complies with European law. I believe this is a fundamental right of parliament.”

15. ROUSSEAU MARCHING

16. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF FRENCH FARMERS UNION FNSEA, ARNAUD ROUSSEAU, SAYING:

“We are calling on all EU lawmakers to take up the issue, including perhaps some who might actually be in favour of Mercosur, because asking whether this agreement is or is not compliant with European law is a valid question—especially concerning the famous rebalancing clause.”

17. PROTESTER HOLDING RED FLARE WHILE MARCHING

18. PROTESTERS MARCHING

19. VARIOUS OF POLICE GATHERED IN FRONT OF EU PARLIAMENT