Brussels moves to provisionally apply the EU-Mercosur trade pact before full parliamentary approval, citing global competition and economic urgency, as critics warn the step undermines democratic procedure and farmers’ livelihoods.

Despite resistance from France and a legal challenge, EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic says the bloc could implement its long-negotiated Mercosur agreement within months to boost exports and offset U.S. tariffs

The vote passed with 334 for and 324 against. Prominent German MEP calls it "absolutely irresponsible" while the Left celebrates the "blow" to EU-Mercosur.

The European Union and South American bloc Mercosur have signed a long-awaited free trade agreement in Paraguay, creating the EU’s largest-ever trade accord and a market of 700 million people, pending approval by European and South American legislatures.

'Greece's positive vote took into account all the factors that protect Greek farmers,' sources at the ministry of rural development were repeatedly quoted on Friday evening as saying, after EU states gave the go-ahead in a majority vote