A recent survey by Infratest of 1,319 German voters for ARD, run from Monday to Wednesday this week, found that 66 percent see the planned expansion of free‑trade agreements as more advantageous for Europe, 17 percent view it as more disadvantageous, and another 17 percent have no opinion. Support for the benefits varies strongly by party: 89 percent of the Greens, 81 percent of the Union, 78 percent of the SPD, and 70 percent of the Left endorse a net advantage. Even among AfD supporters the opinion is split, with 51 percent favouring benefits and 33 percent highlighting disadvantages.
The context for this debate is the recent EU‑India free‑trade pact announced at the end of January after more than 20 years of talks, and the EU‑Mercosur agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, signed after over 25 years of negotiation. A narrow majority of the EU Parliament has now obliged the EU‑Mercosur deal to undergo review by the European Court of Justice.
When it comes to whether the agreement should be applied provisionally before the Court’s review, 47 percent of voters favour early implementation to stimulate Europe’s economy and independence, whereas 41 percent prefer to wait for the Court’s judgment to ensure compliance with European minimum standards.
Party‑by‑party positions on provisional application are as follows: 65 percent of Union supporters, 64 percent of Greens, and 60 percent of SPD back it; 61 percent of AfD voters advocate waiting. The Left is divided, with 40 percent favouring provisional use and 44 percent favouring a delayed approach.