Irish govt urged to take position of rejection for Mercosur deal
Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh has called on the Irish Government to outright reject the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement ahead of a potential final vote on the deal later this week.
MEP Walsh, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, has been opposed the Mercosur deal given what she said is its potentially "catastrophic" impact on Irish farmers, the agri-food sector and consumer safety.
The deal would see Mercosur countries such as Brazil and Uruguay remove import duties on 91% of EU goods.
However, on the other side of the agreement, the Mercosur countries would get to sell their goods to the EU with fewer restrictions.
These include sugar, honey, soybeans, and, importantly to Ireland, meat, specifically beef.
Maria Walsh MEP said: “With a final vote on the Mercosur agreement potentially taking place at the end of this week, the Irish Government must now take a clear and decisive position and outright reject this trade deal.
"I am calling on An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, as well as my Fine Gael colleagues, An Tánaiste and party leader Simon Harris and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Helen McEntee, to show leadership and commit to voting against Mercosur at EU Council level.
“This deal is not inevitable - president von der Leyen’s pen has not yet signed the dotted line.
"Ireland has an opportunity to lead, as France has done, and to stand up for our farmers and rural communities."
The Midlands North West MEP stressed that the Irish agri-food sector operates to some of the highest environmental, animal-welfare and food-safety standards in the world.
She added that she feels it is unacceptable to ask Irish farmers to compete with imports produced to far lower standards.
“I have consistently raised these concerns in the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, where I have fought for stronger safeguards, improved traceability and credible enforcement mechanisms," Walsh said.
"However, the reality is that the very foundations of the EU-Mercosur agreement undermine those efforts and threaten the viability of family farms across Ireland.
“I’ve also highlighted serious issues uncovered in Brazil, including the illegal sale of antibiotics and the use of growth promoters banned in the EU.
"These practices raise profound food-safety and public-health concerns and fundamentally call into question the assurances being given around Mercosur imports," she added.
The MEP from Mayo said that she believes Ireland must not sign up to an agreement that risks "undermining food security, jeopardises rural livelihoods, and allows products that fail to meet EU standards onto our shelves".
She is calling on the Irish government to take a stance of outright rejection of the proposed trade deal.
It follows news in recent days that France has said that the deal in its current format "is not acceptable" and the French Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu has called for a vote on the deal to be deferred.
A major protest involving farmers from across the European Union, including Ireland will take place on Thursday (December 18) in Brussels, organised by Copa Cogeca which represents farmers and co-ops.
Over 40 member organisations from 27 European countries have announced their presence at the demonstration march, where 10,000 farmers are expected over many issues affecting the industry including the Mercosur deal.
