Irish beef farmers facing 'sustained economic emergency' - TD
The signing of the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement "moves Irish beef farmers' nightmare one step closer to reality", according to an independent TD.
On Saturday (January 17), the EU today signed a partnership agreement and an interim trade agreement with the four Mercosur countries following 25 years of negotiations.
The agreement with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay would create the world's biggest free trade zone, covering a market of over 700 million consumers.
A majority of EU member states voted in favour of the deal during a meeting of the European Council on January 9. Ireland; France; Hungary; Poland; and Austria voted against, while Belgium abstained.
The deal will require the consent of the European Parliament before it can be formally ratified.
Mercosur
Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan strongly condemned the formal signing of the EU-Mercosur agreements by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Paraguay.
"Although the move was clearly signalled and not unanticipated, the signing of the agreements, which now only require the consent of the European Parliament and ratification by Mercosur member states, will still send a shiver down the spine of thousands of farm families throughout Ireland.
"Nothing is breaking through to the President von der Leyen or indeed those who want to see this agreement in place irrespective of the damage it will do a core pillar of the Irish agricultural economy and the integrity of the EU’s food standards regime. That is profoundly alarming.
"Unless there is an 11th hour reprieve by the European Parliament, it is now almost certain that the Irish beef sector will enter a period of sustained economic emergency," she said.
Deputy Nolan said she has written to both the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to "strongly encourage both of them to continue making every effort possible to oppose this deal in collaboration with other member states".
