The president of the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) Francie Gorman is urging farmers to attend a protest against the EU-Mercosur trade agreement this weekend.

The protest, taking place in Athlone, Co. Westmeath on Saturday (January 10), has been organised by Independent Ireland.

The political party has said the proposed Mercosur deal has the potential to be devastating to Irish agriculture.

As previously reported on Agriland, the IFA has confirmed it will be among several farm organisations taking part in the demonstration.

Protest

Francie Gorman said IFA will take up the invitation to attend and speak at the protest in Athlone.

"We would strongly encourage farmers to attend next Saturday to convey their opposition to Mercosur. It is a massive issue and we need a united front.

"The December 18 protest in Brussels, organised by the EU farm representative body COPA and its member organisations including IFA, was crucial in ensuring the postponement of the member state vote intended for that day.

"However, there is still huge pressure on from the EU Commission and certain member states to ratify the deal as soon as next week,” Gorman said.

The IFA president added: "It is vital that our Government lives up to its commitment in the programme for government to work with like-minded countries to block the deal.

"The so-called ‘safeguards’ are only a fig leaf. They do not change the substance of this deal," he said.

Mercosur

Gorman noted that EU member state ambassadors are due to meet on Friday.

"The IFA office in Brussels is monitoring developments by the hour and we would be concerned that there may be an attempt at this meeting to ratify the deal.

"This is something we are actively discussing in conjunction with COPA and our farm organisation counterparts in countries who are opposed to Mercosur,” he said.

The IFA president added that an EU blocking minority requires four countries that make up at least 35% of the population of the EU.

"Ireland has about 1% of the EU population so maintaining opposition in countries such as France (circa 15%), Italy (circa 13%), Poland (circa 8%), Hungary (circa 2%), and Austria (circa 2%) is vital.

"The Irish government cannot block this on their own, but they can work with others to maintain the blocking minority,” he said.