French blockade looms over Commission’s plan to fast-track trade deals in English

The European Commission plans to fast-track the ratification of trade agreements by using only English-language versions during negotiations with EU governments and lawmakers, according to sources. This strategy aims to expedite the negotiation process and bring deals into force more quickly as the Commission seeks new markets amid rising geopolitical tensions.

However, the slow ratification of the EU–Mercosur trade deal has frustrated the Commission, which believes that accelerating negotiations is essential. Translating the agreements into all 24 official EU languages can take months due to the legal scrutiny required before the ratification process begins. The EU executive has confirmed that trade chief Maroš Šefčovič suggested using English as the primary language for the Mercosur trade deal, which concluded on January 27, as a potential test case. Šefčovič argued that losing out on an estimated €300 billion in economic activity due to the lack of the Mercosur agreement since 2021 underscores the importance of expediting such deals.

He emphasized that the Commission would ensure the agreements are eventually translated into all official EU languages after ratification. However, French sources, who spoke to Euronews, strongly oppose the idea of English-only agreements and maintain that the use of all Union languages, including French, is a matter of principle.

French officials raised legal and democratic concerns about switching entirely to English, noting that linguistic diversity is a crucial aspect of the EU's institutional work. Critics, such as Michele Gazzola, an expert in language policy, warn that relying solely on English during ratification could create transparency, precision, and understanding issues for European Parliament members and national parliaments.