The European Parliament on Thursday, March 26, 2026, voted by a clear majority to adopt its position on the implementation of the EU-US Turnberry deal – 417 votes in favor to 154 against. The decision paves the way for negotiations with member states on the final legislative text, expected to begin next month. The vote comes after months of uncertainty surrounding the agreement and signals a willingness to move forward despite significant reservations.
While the vote represents a win for proponents of closer transatlantic trade ties, debate within the Parliament revealed widespread skepticism about the deal itself. Several lawmakers questioned whether the agreement offered sufficient guarantees for European interests.
Bernd Lange, a German Social Democrat who led function on the legislative proposals in the International Trade Committee, set the tone for the discussion, stating, “An arrangement is not an agreement. An agreement implies commitments, guarantees and a dispute resolution mechanism. All of this is completely lacking in the Turnberry arrangement.”
Despite his criticism, Lange ultimately voted in favor, arguing that the Parliament had strengthened the proposals with mechanisms typically found in formal agreements – and that these mechanisms allow for the rollback of EU concessions if the United States fails to deliver on its commitments. “Parliament will only be able to approve the trade terms of the agreement if the regulation contains very strong and clear safeguards,” Lange said after the vote, “and only after the United States has fully respected the terms of the agreement. I intend to firmly defend this mandate during the negotiations.”
Karin Karlsbro, the Renew Europe group’s lead on the issue, encapsulated the Parliament’s position, saying, “Transatlantic trade must be built on mutual respect. We have not forgotten Greenland, the threats and the blackmail.”
Valdis Dombrovskis, the European Commission’s trade commissioner, defended moving forward, emphasizing that the United States remains a key trading partner for the EU. “An arrangement is an arrangement, and our credibility depends on keeping our word,” Dombrovskis said.
The vote saw support from the center-right European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), and the Renew Europe groups, as well as the national-conservative European Conservative and Reformists (ECR).
Opposition came primarily from the Left group, the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group, and a majority from the Green group. Martin Schirdewan, leader of the Left group, argued that the agreement would benefit large American corporations at the expense of European industry. Hermann Tertsch, from the far-right ID group, criticized the Commission as incompetent rather than focusing blame on former President Trump, claiming Ursula von der Leyen had sacrificed European interests.
Among Swedish MEPs, all voted in favor except for the three representatives from the Green Party and Hanna Gedin of the Left Party, who voted against. Jonas Sjöstedt (Left Party), Abir Al-Sahlani (Center Party), and Jörgen Warborn (Moderate Party) did not participate in the vote.
The approval of the Turnberry deal’s tariff elements marks a significant step toward stabilizing trade relations between the EU and the US, but the concerns raised during the parliamentary debate suggest continued scrutiny and potential challenges during the upcoming negotiations. The development underscores the complex dynamics at play in transatlantic economic relations and the EU’s determination to protect its interests.
