Government must outright reject Mercosur Trade Agreement - Mayo MEP

FINE Gael MEP Maria Walsh has called on the Irish government to outright reject the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement ahead of a potential final vote on the deal later this week.

MEP Walsh, a full member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, has long opposed the Mercosur deal given its potentially catastrophic impact on Irish farmers, the agri-food sector and consumer safety.

She said: “With a final vote on the Mercosur agreement potentially taking place at the end of this week, the Irish government must now take a clear and decisive position and outright reject this trade deal.

“I am calling on An Taoiseach Micheál Martin, as well as my Fine Gael colleagues An Tánaiste and party leader Simon Harris and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee, to show leadership and commit to voting against Mercosur at EU Council level.

“This deal is not inevitable - President von der Leyen’s pen has not yet signed the dotted line. Ireland has an opportunity to lead, as France has done, and to stand up for our farmers and rural communities.

“The Irish agri-food sector operates to some of the highest environmental, animal-welfare and food-safety standards in the world. It is unacceptable to ask Irish farmers to compete with imports produced to far lower standards.”

Ms. Walsh continued: “I have consistently raised these concerns in the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee, where I have fought for stronger safeguards, improved traceability and credible enforcement mechanisms. However, the reality is that the very foundations of the EU-Mercosur agreement undermine those efforts and threaten the viability of family farms across Ireland.

“I’ve also highlighted serious issues uncovered in Brazil, including the illegal sale of antibiotics and the use of growth promoters banned in the EU. These practices raise profound food safety and public-health concerns and fundamentally call into question the assurances being given around Mercosur imports.

“That’s why I am calling on the Irish government to stand firm and reject this deal. Ireland must not sign up to an agreement that risks undermining our food security, jeopardises rural livelihoods, and allows products that fail to meet EU standards onto our shelves.

“Our farmers deserve better, and Ireland must lead with courage in defence of Irish agriculture.”