Mayo TD welcomes 'tide turning' on Mercosur trade agreement
A Mayo TD has today welcomed the European Parliament’s decision to refer the EU–Mercosur trade agreement to the European Court of Justice, describing it as “a step in the right direction — but not the end of the road.”
The referral, carried by a margin of just ten votes in a parliament of more than 700 members, follows an intensive lobbying campaign in Strasbourg focused specifically on MEPs who had abstained in the December vote on Mercosur safeguards.
“This decision has bought Europe time,” Deputy Paul Lawless said.
“Time for scrutiny. Time for due process. And time to test whether this agreement stands up to competition law, environmental obligations and the basic principles of fairness that are supposed to underpin the Single Market.”
Deputy Lawless said his meetings centred on MEPs who were genuinely undecided.
“Our engagement was targeted and practical. We focused on colleagues who had abstained previously, many of whom were broadly sympathetic to Ireland’s concerns but had been assured that the safeguards were sufficient.
"When those safeguards were examined properly, when their weaknesses were set out clearly, movement followed. In a vote decided by ten, that movement mattered.”
He said a core issue raised repeatedly was the reality of anti-competitive practice.
“Corporations can relocate, restructure, or route around regulatory burdens. Farmers cannot. They are bound to the land.
"If European farmers are held to the highest standards in the world, while competitors are not, and both are allowed sell into the same market, that is not free trade — it is structurally unfair trade.”
Deputy Lawless said his experience in Strasbourg was that MEPs were open to engagement and actively seeking information.
“We met MEPs who were going into thei group meetings unsure how they would vote. We met others looking for detailed material, including recent reporting and analysis around the safeguards. There was a genuine willingness to listen.”
He thanked Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín and MEPs Ciaran Mollooly and Michael McNamara for their support and work throughout the campaign.
“This was a collective effort, carried out against the odds.”
Deputy Lawless concluded by stressing that the referral marks a new phase, not a conclusion.
“The vote in Parliament is now deferred. This creates both space and responsibility. The Government must now get off the fence and proactively defend Irish farmers, consumers and standards. We will regroup with like-minded TDs and MEPs in the days ahead to determine the next steps. This campaign is far from over.”