The Minister of Agriculture, Florin Barbu, states that the EU-Mercosur agreement will not be applicable until a decision by the CJEU, warning about the negative impact on Romanian agriculture.

Florin Barbu, the Minister of Agriculture, rejected the idea that the trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries could be implemented without a clear decision from the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). He emphasized that, although the agreement has been signed, it will not become operational until the CJEU rules on its validity. Barbu warned that a rushed implementation could cause tensions within European institutions and could lead to a crisis in the European Commission.

The minister explained that the agreement raises serious legal issues and could have severe economic consequences for Romanian agriculture, considering the differences in production costs. He mentioned that Romania could lose from this agreement, especially in the cereal and meat sectors, where products from Mercosur could enter the European market at significantly lower prices. Barbu emphasized that market openness is beneficial only if the products meet the same quality and safety standards.

Following the vote in the European Parliament to refer the case to the CJEU, political reactions were mixed. PSD welcomed the decision, while PNL criticized it, arguing that it blocks the protection of Romanian farmers.