The decision by the European Commission to provisionally apply the EU-Mercosur trade agreement is a "further blow to Europe's agriculture", according to Copa Cogeca.

The umbrella organisation representing European farmers and agri-cooperatives, was commenting after EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the move today (Friday, February 27).

The decision followed the ratification of the deal by Argentina and Uruguay.

The agreement, which has been 25 years in the making, will create one of the world's biggest free trade zones, covering a market of over 700 million consumers.

However, European farmers have raised concerns about the deal allowing 99,000t of Mercosur beef enter the EU market with a 7.5% duty.

The trade agreement can only be fully concluded once the European Parliament has given its consent.

Mercosur

Copa Cogeca said today's decision could only be perceived by the farming sector "as a disregard for the well-founded concerns we have been raising for years alongside environmental organisations, labour unions, and consumer groups regarding the impacts of this agreement".

"These concerns relate not only to increased import volumes, which put pressure especially on sensitive sectors such as beef, poultry, and sugar, but also to persistent asymmetries in production standards, environmental requirements, animal welfare rules, use of plant protection products, and labour standards," the organisation said.

Copa Cogeca claimed that the EU has "obtained no guarantees capable of truly reassuring producers and consumers" in relation to these issues.

The organisation said the recent EU audit report on Brazilian beef, including the continued use of hormones, "only reinforces these concerns for both producers and consumers".

"It is therefore deeply troubling that the agreement is being pushed through under provisional application, not only disregarding the farming community’s concerns," it added.

"The farming sector is already under significant economic pressure due to rising input costs, climate challenges, and market volatility.

"Proceeding in this manner will leave a lasting political mark and risks further undermining trust between European institutions and rural communities," the organisation said.