reported from the source

Quick summary: Following the vote on the Mercosur agreement, members of the Green party express regret over the decision to seek a review by the European Court of Justice, despite many of their own MEPs voting in favor.

Criticism from within the Green party regarding their voting behavior in the EU Parliament on the Mercosur trade agreement is growing louder and sharper. Former Green Environment Minister Jürgen Trittin described the decision to have the agreement reviewed by the European Court of Justice as ‘without compass.’ Other Greens reportedly referred to the decision as ‘totally stupid’ and ‘tactically foolish’ behind closed doors. Co-party chairman Felix Banaszak expressed his dissatisfaction with the timing of the vote, suggesting it did not convey the European resolve that was needed. He highlighted that the EU could have demonstrated its trade partnerships with four major South American countries during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos. Despite 25 years of negotiations, concerns remain about the agreement, particularly regarding its impact on European farmers, consumers, and the climate. The majority of German Greens in the EU Parliament ultimately voted for the review, alongside far-right and far-left parties. SPD parliamentary manager Dirk Wiese criticized this as ‘politically foolish’ and ‘instinctless.’ Manfred Weber, leader of the conservative EPP group in the EU Parliament, referred to it as a ‘rather unholy alliance’ that voted against German and European economic interests. Erik Marquardt, head of the German Greens delegation in the EU Parliament, also voted for the legal review but expressed regret that the majority was achieved only with far-right parties. He emphasized that the vote was not about the agreement itself but about clarifying complex legal questions. The Greens support Mercosur despite years of opposition. The trade agreement is set to be provisionally applied, which is seen as a conciliatory gesture towards Green campaigners, including Cem Özdemir, who aims to become Minister President of Baden-Württemberg in March. Özdemir has distanced himself from the voting behavior of his colleagues in Brussels. Katharina Schulze, a Green politician in Bavaria facing municipal elections in March, also criticized the vote, stating that despite the ‘fatal signal,’ the agreement can now come into effect. Chancellor Friedrich Merz supports this approach, but a decision is still pending.

Source: www.tagesschau.de