High-level Trade Event: EU-Mercosur Agreement: What comes next? Legal, economic and geopolitical implications for business and policy

The political debate surrounding the EU–Mercosur trade agreement has entered a new phase. After the conclusion of negotiations and recent political steps to advance the agreement, attention in Brussels and in EU member states is increasingly shifting to the practical and political questions surrounding its ratification and implementation. While supporters see the agreement as an important opportunity to deepen economic ties with South America and strengthen the EU’s global trade partnerships, critics continue to raise concerns related to environmental standards, agricultural competition and the broader balance between trade liberalization and sustainability commitments.In this context, the future of the agreement remains uncertain and politically contested. Questions about the legal structure of the agreement, possible pathways for ratification and the role of provisional application are shaping the debate at the EU level. At the same time, businesses are closely watching how the agreement could affect market access, supply chains and investment decisions between the two regions.

Bringing together policymakers,  economists, business representatives and experts, the event will examine the legal, economic, and geopolitical implications of the EU–Mercosur agreement and discuss what the next steps for the partnership could look like.

Programme

11:45 Light Lunch & Registration

12:30 Welcome
Cesar Cunha Campos, Director-General, FGV Europe

12:35 Keynote
Bernd Lange, Chair INTA Committee, European Parliament

13:00 Fireside Chat
“Provisional Application of the FTA”

Peter-Tobias Stoll, Professor for Public International Law, University of Göttingen &
Dorothée Falkenberg, Programme Manager, SWP Brussels

13:15 Panel Discussion

• Paolo Garzotti, Head of Unit “Latin America and Caribbean”, DG TRADE, Commission 
• Bettina Rudloff, Senior Associate, SWP 
• Samina Sultan, Senior Economist, German Economic Institute (IW)
•  N.N., Tbc, Head of EU Representation, Volkswagen Group
• Pierre Leturcq (tbc), Senior Associate, The Institute for European Environmental Policy

Moderated by
Sandra Parthie, Head of Brussels Liaison Office, German Economic Institute (IW)

14:30 Closing

Date/Time

April 14, 2026, 12:30 – 14:30

Location

Representation of the State of NRW to the EU
Rue Montoyer 47 
1000 Brussels