Mercosur is a 'bad deal for Irish and EU farmers' - Sinn Féin
The Mercosur trade deal "is a bad deal for Irish and EU farmers and always has been" the Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Martin Kenny warned today (Wednesday, September 3).
Deputy Kenny said the Irish government must oppose ratification of the trade deal and should use its influence with other member states to oppose Mercosur.
The European Commission today put forward its proposal to ratify the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA).
The commission is also seeking to ratify the EU-Mexico Modernised Global Agreement (MGA).
Deputy Kenny said Sinn Féin had been "consistent in its opposition to the deal" and that it would continue to "stand with our beef and poultry farmers in opposing this deal".
“We all know the issues with the deal in relation to animal welfare standards and traceability to the environmental consequences of deforestation. 99,000 tons of South American beef and 180,000 tons of South American poultry will be imported into the EU as part of the deal.
“This will impact on Irish family farms as cheap beef and poultry will push Irish produce off the shelves and, once this starts, what is to stop the volumes of South American beef and poultry being imported from increasing?" he also warned.
Deputy Kenny has urged the Irish government to "stand up to Ursula von der Leyen in opposing the ratification of this deal and defending Irish agriculture".
He has also cautioned today that the Mercosur deal shouls not be used as a "bargaining chip" when it comes to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) or Ireland's ongoing campaign to secure a new nitrates derogation.
Deputy Kenny said: “These are three issues that will define the future of Irish agriculture and cannot be traded off against each other.
"They are equally important in their own right, and should be kept separate.“The Irish government must align itself with those other member states who are opposed to this deal and state its position publicly".
Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin Lynn Boylan slammed the announcement that the European Commission will be splitting the EU-Mercosur trade agreement.
She said that splitting the agreement means that national parliaments will not have a say on ratification of the agreement and that only a qualified majority will be needed at European Council - not unanimous agreement by all member states.
“Splitting the Mercosur agreement is an undemocratic attempt by the European Commission to force this rotten trade deal on the European public who have made clear their opposition to Mercosur.
“National parliaments will not have a say on this agreement - an agreement which is bad for people and planet, and will set us back in our climate targets and our commitment to preventing deforestation.
“The European Commission knows that parliamentarians from across Europe will not accept this deal and have today demonstrated their willingness to force through this agreement in a highly undemocratic way with little public scrutiny," she said.
Boylan, who is also the Left Group coordinator on the International Trade Committee, said the Irish government must now state clearly that they will join the blocking minority at the European Council to ensure this trade deal is not ratified.
"The government cannot sit on the fence as the commission attempts to sell out our farmers and indeed our planet's future.
“I will be opposing ratification in the European Parliament and working with like-minded colleagues in the International Trade Committee to oppose this rotten trade deal," she added.
