France Vows to Block EU Commission’s English-Only Trade Deal Ratification Plan

Published on 07/03/2026 – 8:00 GMT+1•Updated 11/09/2026 – 22:42 GMT+2

France is preparing to resist a European Commission proposal to expedite the ratification of international trade agreements by limiting negotiations to English-language texts, bypassing translations into the European Union’s 24 official languages, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

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The prolonged delay in ratifying the controversial EU–Mercosur trade agreement has prompted frustration within the European Commission, which is eager to streamline future negotiations and bring trade pacts into effect more swiftly as it seeks to secure new markets amid growing geopolitical uncertainties.

Translating complex legal agreements into all official EU languages requires extensive review and can extend the ratification timeline by several months.

The EU executive confirmed to Euronews that Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič informed EU trade ministers in February that the recently concluded EU-India trade agreement—sealed on 27 January—could serve as a pilot for conducting ratification discussions exclusively in English.

“We estimate losses of nearly €300 billion in GDP impact and over €200 billion in missed export opportunities due to the delay in implementing the Mercosur agreement since 2021,” Šefčovič stated to reporters following the ministerial meeting on 20 February. “It can take up to two and a half years between the conclusion of negotiations and when businesses can fully operate in partner countries. In today’s climate, we cannot afford to lose that time.”

Šefčovič emphasized that the Commission intends to provide full translations in all 24 official languages after the agreements are formally adopted and published in the Official Journal. He noted that the initiative received support from at least seven member states during the meeting, though not all nations had sufficient time to express their positions.

French officials speaking to Euronews made clear that Paris would mount strong resistance to any effort to limit ratification processes to English alone.

“We fundamentally believe in the importance of using all of the Union’s languages, particularly French, which remains one of the EU’s working languages,” said one French government representative.

Language Rights vs. Efficiency

The handling of language policy within EU institutions continues to be a politically charged issue, especially for France, where the prominence of French has diminished significantly over recent decades as English has become the dominant language in day-to-day operations—even though French, German, and English remain the three official working languages.

“Shifting entirely to English creates both legal and democratic concerns, and the Commission understands this,” said another French diplomat.

On its website, the European Commission reaffirms its commitment to preserving linguistic diversity and promoting multilingualism across its institutional activities.

The EU previously maintained a dedicated commissioner responsible for language policy, but this role was gradually absorbed into broader portfolios and ultimately eliminated.

Michele Gazzola, a language policy expert, expressed concern over what he perceives as a growing trend toward privileging English at the expense of other languages.

“It seems that in certain instances, the Commission takes advantage of procedural efficiencies to suggest that English holds a superior status, treating other languages merely as tools for later translation,” Gazzola commented.

He warned that restricting ratification dialogue to English could complicate matters for members of the European Parliament and pose even greater challenges when national parliaments must participate.

“This isn’t just about procedure—it’s about ensuring transparency, precision, and genuine understanding among all stakeholders involved.”

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