THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT has passed final safeguards on farming imports for the EU’s colossal Mercosur trade deal, allowing investigations into whether imports are starting to threaten domestic industries.
It’s a bid to again try and calm opposition to the agreement, which hit a hurdle last month after MEPs unexpectedly voted to refer Mercosur to the European courts for further examination.
It’s unclear when they would come into force given the agreement has been stalled.
However, the measures could still come into effect if the European Commission were to provisionally apply the terms of the deal, which MEPs believe could happen when South American parliaments approve it on their end in the coming months.
These include Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.
If the trade deal comes into effect, it would greatly reduce tariffs on a range of products, affecting pharmaceuticals, food and drink.
But the issues around farming have been the most Contentious, leading to largescale protests in Ireland and a number of European countries over recent weeks.
Farmers protesting in Athlone last month. Eoghan Dalton / The Journal
Eoghan Dalton / The Journal / The Journal
What today’s vote means
In today’s vote, MEPS voted overwhelmingly to adopt safeguard measures stipulating that the European Commission will launch an investigation if imports of “sensitive” agricultural products – including beef, poultry and eggs – increase by 5% on a three-year average.
It will also be factored into any investigation if the prices of those imported agriculture goods are 5% below the domestic price.
An investigation may also be requested by an EU member state or an industry group in case of a “threat” to the industry concerned.
As an added protection, MEPs want the Commission to present a report to parliament assessing the impact of imports of sensitive products at least once every six months.
The safeguard measures were adopted by the European Parliament in Strasbourg following a vote of 483 MEPs in favour and 102 against, with 67 abstentions.
They now move to the European Council for further examination
What Irish MEPs are saying
Seán Kelly, MEP and leader of Fine Gael in the European Parliament, said they form a “safety net” for Irish beef farmers if their market is disrupted by the entrance of South American meat.
“This is the first time a legally binding safeguards mechanism, covering sensitive agricultural products, has been included in an EU trade deal and that is a positive development for farmers across Europe”, stressed the Ireland South MEP, who has long supported the trade deal.
His party colleague, the Midlands North West MEP Maria Walsh has opposed the deal but said she voted in favour of today’s safeguards as a “pragmatic” measure.
“I remain firmly opposed to the Mercosur deal, but we must be pragmatic and have the strongest possible protections in place for Irish farmers,” Walsh said in a statement.
Walsh – who is a member of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee – added that securing “meaningful safeguards” is critical.
But she added that a strong response is needed if agricultural imports upset markets in the EU.
“My focus was on ensuring that if any market disruption does occur, the lower tariffs for Mercosur imports are stopped as quickly as possible. I pushed for practical measures that activate quickly – not vague promises on paper.”
Sinn Féin call measures a ‘smokescreen’
Sinn Féin’s two MEPs – Kathleen Funchion and Lynn Boylan – both voted against the measure.
In a statement from the party, they said that the measures are still “not a true safeguard for farmers or the environment” and were designed to “give political cover” to the European Commission.
The party statement added that its MEPs believe the Commission will use today’s vote as justification to provisionally apply Mercosur.
“Our vote today was a vote against a political smokescreen designed to hide the real dangers of Mercosur for Irish and European farmers and for our planet,” the party spokesperson said.
Protests
The issue exploded last month as protests were held around Europe by farmers seeking to stop the deal, with one gathering in Athlone in Ireland seeing thousands turn out to voice opposition.
European Commission president Ursela von der Leyen has repeatedly cited the deal as being critical for the EU if it’s to strengthen relationships away from the White House, given diplomatic turmoil from Donald Trump.
Since the deal was stalled, further fuel has been poured on the fire as farmers have staged a sit-in protest inside Bord Bia’s offices after the chair of the Irish food body confirmed his firm has been importing Brazilian beef.
While the demands of farmers and Sinn Féin for Larry Murrin to step aside have been met with firm resistance, it highlighted the strong feelings over the plans contained within the Mercosur deal to begin upping imports of beef from South America.
