German chancellor calls EU parliament vote on South American trade deal ‘regrettable’

​​​​​​​BERLIN

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday sharply criticized the European Parliament's decision to send a trade agreement with the EU and South American countries to the bloc's top court for a legality review.

“The European Parliament's decision on the Mercosur agreement is regrettable. It misjudges the geopolitical situation,” Merz said in a statement on social media. “We are convinced of the agreement's legality. No more delays. The agreement must now be provisionally applied,” he said.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament narrowly voted to send the EU-Mercosur trade agreement to the EU's Court of Justice for a legality review, casting doubt on the future of the major deal between the EU and South American countries.