12/01/2026 (Agence Europe) – The far-right Patriots for Europe (PfE) group in the European Parliament will be tabling a motion of censure against the European Commission in response to the forthcoming signing on 17 January of the trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur countries. The group’s chairman, Jordan Bardella, reconfirmed this intention at a press conference in Paris on Monday 12 January. He described the signing of the free trade agreement as “a provocation to our farmers and a serious renunciation of the defence of the national interest”. The aim would be to vote on this motion at the February plenary session. In France, the Rassemblement National party will also be tabling a motion of no confidence in the French government. On Friday 9 January, the EU Member States gave the green light to the controversial agreement and the provisional application of its commercial side, without waiting for the European Parliament to vote (see EUROPE 13783/1). (PLD)