Programme for government aim to oppose Mercosur deal lauded
MEP for the Midlands North West constituency, Ciaran Mullooly, has welcomed the Irish Government’s commitment in the programme for government to oppose the EU-Mercosur trade deal.
According to the MEP, the draft programme states that the government will “work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal".
While welcoming this position, Mullooly has called on the government to fully explain its stance and outline a clear plan of action.
“I welcome the government’s commitment to opposing this deeply flawed trade deal,” he said.
“However, transparency is essential. The government must explain why it opposes the current deal, how it plans to address its harmful impacts on Irish farmers and rural communities, and what specific steps it will take to block its ratification.”
Mullooly also called on Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke to clarify his position on the Mercosur deal.
He noted that Minister Burke had previously expressed support for the agreement, stating that he saw something in an annex that made him favour it.
Mullooly has now urged the minister to explain this reasoning and whether he still supports the deal.
The MEP also highlighted strong opposition from Irish farming organisations. “Irish farming organisations have strongly rejected this agreement,” he said.
“They know it will create a surplus of South American beef in the EU produced under weaker standards, devastating Irish family farmers who already face enormous pressures.”
Mullooly also said that the government’s statement of opposition to the deal strengthens his ability to continue forging alliances with MEPs from other member states who also oppose the trade deal.
He warned about the European Council’s role in determining how the deal will be voted on: “The Council of the European Union will first decide how to vote on the EU-Mercosur trade deal.
"This decision will determine whether member states have a unanimous vote or a majority vote. This is very important as a majority vote could push it through,” he explained.
Earlier today (Thursday, January 16), the EU-Mercosur trade agreement was described as a “win win” deal that paves the way for new export opportunities for EU companies.
EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic made the comments before the European Parliament’s Committee for International Trade (INTA).
The controversial trade agreement would allow an additional 99,000t of beef enter the EU tariff-free from Mercosur countries Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Bolivia.
The political agreement will open up the EU market to goods from Mercosur, but limits imports from those countries of “sensitive agricultural products” such as beef, ethanol, pork, honey, sugar and poultry.
The commissioner said: "The reduction of Mercosur's high tariffs will significantly boost the competitiveness of the EU companies in Mercosur markets."
