MEPs unite in Strasbourg against Mercosur trade deal
Midlands North West MEP Ciaran Mullooly hosted an important event in Strasbourg, convening a broad coalition of MEPs from different member states to oppose the EU-Mercosur trade agreement. Mullooly MEP expressed concern over the lack of detailed information from the Commission regarding both the terms of the deal and its potential impact on individual Member States' agricultural sectors. This concern was echoed by the Irish agri sector, which has raised numerous questions about the deal, highlighting the many reasons why the Mercosur agreement poses significant risks.
The event underscored that this deal poses substantial risks to European family farms, the beef and poultry industries, and food safety standards, necessitating stringent safeguards to protect these sectors. Jessika van Leeuwen, a Dutch MEP with a PhD in animal sciences and extensive experience in livestock production, including in Mercosur countries, delivered a detailed address. She highlighted the lack of basic traceability systems for medication use in Mercosur countries, where national laws do not require farms to record administered substances like hormones and antibiotics, and so, in her words, "they just don't record the use of these substances." This oversight, she stated, "creates substantial risks for food safety and public health."
Van Leeuwen also questioned the European Commission's claims of full control over these practices, noting that her professional inquiries about their methods are often ignored during committee meetings. She highlighted that critical differences in regulatory standards and production conditions compared to Europe are well known and these differences need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
The event highlighted widespread opposition to the Mercosur deal among MEPs from various political groups. There was strong consensus among the MEP gathering that the agreement would exacerbate unfair competition due to lower labour costs and weaker environmental regulations in Mercosur countries. This could lead to crises in sensitive sectors such as beef and poultry production, threatening Europe's high food safety and environmental benchmarks.
At the event, MEP Mullooly announced the launch of an education and awareness campaign to inform citizens about the dangers of the Mercosur trade deal. The campaign aims to mobilise public opinion in favour of stricter provisions that protect European farmers and consumers, ensuring the European Parliament scrutinises the agreement closely to address its long-term implications.
