Jan. 21 (UPI) -- European lawmakers narrowly voted Wednesday to refer a $100 billion free trade agreement with Latin American "Mercosur" countries to the EU Court of Justice in Luxembourg to rule on whether it is lawful, just days after it was signed.
The 334-324 vote by MEPs to send the deal to the court to determine its compatibility with EU treaties could push back implementation by months or years, impacting as many as 700 million people in the two free-trade blocs.
However, the European Commission indicated it would forgo its power to allow the agreement to take interim effect until the court delivers its verdict due to the pushback likely from EU member states that oppose the deal, including France, Hungary and Poland.
A European Commission spokesperson said the executive branch regretted the decision and "would seek to convince lawmakers about the geostrategic importance of this trade deal," but said the matter would be on the agenda of an emergency meeting of EU leaders Thursday in Brussels, being called to discuss "developments in transatlantic relations."
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